Please, I need help to play Baku Baku Animal for PC through my old CD
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Just yersterday I found out I've still got the CD for Baku Baku Animal, an old Sega game, for PC.
I also found this topic about the game: https://sourceforge.net/p/dxwnd/discussion/general/thread/3fce5bf56e/?page=0
So I though I could get some help here. Thing is, I installed the game without problems. When I tried to open the .exe for the first time, it told me it didn't find the necessary .dll file, but I already solved that issue. After that, it told me I needed to play with 256 colors, so I went to the .exe file properties, compatibility, and made it so it would run at 256 colors. But then it seems the game is about to open but it tells me "Baku Baku animal is already in use". Trying to run it with DxWnd results in the same.
Anyone knows what could be happening here? I really want to revive this old gem through my old CD, since I'm lucky enough to still have it!
Thank you in advance in any case :)
Maybe the game is already in use? This can happen if for some reason (hint: a wrong DxWnd configuration) the game started, could not get visible but didn't die either.
Try checking the list of active processes with the task manager, or just try to log out and in again.
If this doesn't work let me know, I can tell you how to run the game collecting logs that should clarify the problem.
In attach a working configuration, import it and set the correct game "Path" field. Also, the game requires the CD to be mounted on the same drive where you installed it.
Yes, I already checked with the task manager, but it wasn't there, I tried again.
I downloaded this file of yours, but I don't really know how to use it :P I downloaded DxWnd to see if that allowed me to play, but it doesn't matter if I run the game through DxWnd or not, it still says that "Baku Baku Animal is already in use".
The case is puzzling: I searched the message text with a debugger but found nothing, so I can't guess where it comes from.
In any case, it is possible to guess more if you follow these instructions:
1) decompress the last DxWnd release in a folder of your choice. You should try v2.05.79, though probably others will do the same
2) run DxWnd and enable "expert mode" in the title menu: "Options -> Expert mode"
3) now "Import" the file I sent you: download and save the file somewhere, then "File -> Import ..." and use the file selection dialog to select "Baku Baku.dxw"
4) Now you should have Baku Baku in your DxWnd game list. But the "Path" is still not correct. Right-click on the game icon in the DxWnd panel, select "Modify" and change the game "Path" field (according to your screenshot you should type "C:\SEGA\Baku Baku Animal\BAKU.EXE"). There are other easier ways to do that with drag & drop, but you can read that on the help pages ("Help -> View help") if you like.
5) Now one important thing: because of the game characteristics, it NEEDS to be run from DxWnd interface. So, to run the game double-click on the game icon on the DxWnd panel, DO NOT run it from the File Explorer or any other way.
6) If the problem still show, you could set logging (replicate the exact configuration in the attached picture!!) and collect the dxwnd.log file in the game folder, then post it here.
Ok, I've followed your steps, but now it seems like it is opening and then the game window just closes. I tried setting your exact configuration as well, but the same still happens.
I'm attaching the log file here, as you requested.
We're having bad luck, despite the detailed log there is no error in there.
The problem must be elsewhere. Here are a few things you may check:
Uhm... did you set the Windows reduced 256 colors mode? That should be disabled.
I see that you set the Compatibility flag. That should be useless, but not harmful.
I can't remember if the game requires a midi player to work. I have VirtualMidiSynth, but I'm not sure it is necessary.
things you could try are also setting the "Compat. / Handle exceptions" flag, the "Compat. / Set single core affinity" flag and "Compat. / Limit available resources" flag.
Are you sure the CD is still mounted on the same drive letter where it was when you installed the game?
Try running DxWnd with admin privileges (or set "Main / Acquire admin caps")
I warn you: these old games quite often behave different on different platforms. On my computer it went fine, but your case seems different. Let's hope to find a solution soon ...
It's worked! I needed to unmark the compatibility flag for 256 colors!
I needed to restart the computer first for it to work though. And now I see it opens in a very small Windows, although I can hear the music. I guess I'll need to adjust some options. In that old thread from two years ago I posted I see you and others tried to get the best configuration to play this same game, let's see if I can replicate it.
Unless things are different, the only thing you should do is change the coordinate values in the "Main" tab (do not touch the values in the "Video" tab!!).
If you would like to enjoy the game in its full glory, try to check all the following flags:
You should get the game in a nice fake-fulscreen mode.
Last edit: gho 2022-01-12
No keyboard input seems to be working with the game either. And for the time being I cannot find a way to go fullscreen.
for fullscreen mode, see previous (overlapped) answer
The input should be configurable in the game Options -> Operation settings
Last edit: gho 2022-01-12
I didn't get fullscreen with those flags, and the game is still not responding to any key on my keyboard. Any idea?
Maybe you left a Windows compatibility mode for Windows 95 in the system options panel? DxWnd can't usually work with programs that have the Windows 95 compatibility set.
If you don't want to play with Windows properties, you can disable all compatibility settings using the menu command "Tools -> Clear compatibility flags" while the Baku Baku icon is selected.
Last edit: gho 2022-01-12
Doesn't seem so. Although the keyboard is already working, though! I mean, I couldn't get past the title screen, I don't know which key is the "start button", but I got into arcade mode through the game menu.
Now all that's left is getting that fake fullscreen, since the current screen is really really small.
The screenshot shows what you should see. In particular, the menu on the top of the game will list some keys:
Arcade: F6
2 Player Battle: F7
Your log omits a lot of operations that should be done. Are you sure you're running DxWnd with administrator's capabilities? There seems to be a capability problem, quite strange.
No I was not running it with administrator capabilites, didn't know that was necessary.
Right now, with "hide desktop background", "keep aspect ratio" and "desktop work area" marked it still looks like in my screenshot.
Shit! Nothing about the window resizing seems to be working. I doubt it could depend on DxWnd alone, something like this never happened anywhere.
I am clueless. Can you send me your copy of the dxwnd.ini file? Be sure you didn't store any sensible information like your credit card number into the configuration notes ;)
Sensible information, in DxWnd? I don't think so, no, lol.
Here it is.
EDIT: Maybe it has something to do with the coordinate values? I tried to change W and H values but they did nothing.
Last edit: fairylandalice 2022-01-12
I tested your dxwnd.ini on my computer and it works perfectly, so this excludes a configuration problem.
I have really no clues. I can just try to send you my game files. You could try to decompress them in another game folder, hook this game version instead of yours and see if anything changes. Maybe we're using different game releases.
Uhmm... did you test DxWnd on any other game that is working? I suspect there could be a general problem with DxWnd on your system, something like your anti-virus is not letting some operations to be executed.... if that is true, no game should work there.
Last edit: gho 2022-01-12
"CD check file is not found", it says with your version of the game.
In any case, thank you for the time you're investing in helping me, this is really proving to be difficult.
Last edit: fairylandalice 2022-01-12
Yes, silly of me! The game remembers where the game was installed from and searches the CD there (I also wrote that in the configuration notes!). I installed the game from CD H:\, so unless you can change the drive letter ....
BTW the info is written in C:\Windows\baku.ini. You may try to edit the file, though the easiest way could be this one:
1) uninstall everything
2) get a fresh copy of the CD image at this link: https://www.abandonware-france.org/ltf_abandon/ltf_jeu.php?id=1976&fic=liens
3) mount the image, install
4) configure DxWnd
5) run.
The CD image is very small and abandonware-france.org has very fast networks, so the whole operation would take less than to think it.