The X-Files Game (1998) (Windows/Macintosh)
Window hooker to run fullscreen programs in window and much more...
Status: Beta
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The X-Files Game was released at the end of the 1990's FMV video game movement. It's a missed gem and with the new TV series arriving, there might be renewed interest in this game.
It might be the best (produced) FMV video game and the PC version is superior to the PS version.
On W10 x64 it takes a while and the installer seems like it's frozen, however the game installs and runs fullscreen. Unforunately, doesn't run with DxWnd. Can you fix? Thx!
http://www.mobygames.com/game/x-files-game
My friend XD Gamer, when will you hand me an easy one? This X-Files is another nightmare that uses its own way to get to the screen surface (namely: QT2, GDI desktops, operations to NULL HDC and who knows what else ...).
By the way, the frustrating thing is that the game seems quite playable in native fullscreen mode in Win7, so it LOOKS an easy one!
After a few attempts (and further mofdifications to the current DxWnd release) I got the intro movies and the menu working, as long as you click on the movie within a second. If you wait longer, the QT movie becomes deaf to mouse control and you have to look the movie for its full length.
Too bad that when the intro are finished the game scenes are full black! The game is not playable at all this way. I hope to find what's wrong.
Anyway, as long as the game works, I got a few nice pictures: there you will see that the game has also some different type of MOUSE problems, eh eh!!
In attach also the needed DxWnd update.
Last edit: gho 2015-10-17
I hope you don't mind my game requests...
X-Files should play well fullscreen, however I think I need DxWnd to play.
Thank you for test, I couldn't play because of issues with the CD change screen when fullscreen, and I also have issues with CD change screen with DxWnd. I will continue to test CD change screen. Also, CD change screen is early in game...
On W10 x64, I needed to use DirectX 1-6 and Primary Buffer or crash.
I skip intro movies, already viewed them fullscreen and menu option to skip intro movies.
Also, in-game settings, I'm using Auto Set Screen Resolution and 24-bit color.
Subtitles have redering issue. Will post more on cd change screen later. Ciao!
>> I hope you don't mind my game requests...
of course not! And I hope you don't mind my (sometimes weird) sense of humor... also because your requests are quite useful, I couldn't go much further if I had to develop the source code and find weird games to test it. Did you appreciate the mouse gag? There is quite a mouse, in the screenshot #3!
I'll try your game setting, It seems that using them I should play the game better?
I got the game more or less working, but I was a little puzzled by the weird gameplay. Then I realized something was missing. Installing and starting the game on Win98 on the Virtual PC I got a full set of screenshots of "missing in action" things: load/save game backgrounds, inventory, selection of attitude, usage of inventory objects ..... Definitely too much to stay without.
Screenshots labeled vpcx# are from virtual PC, labeled x# are from DxWnd (but you could get pretty much the same on Win7 fullscreen mode).
Last edit: gho 2015-10-17
Yes, the mouse is big and surprising to see.
CD change screen maybe avoid by copying CD files to HD, will try later.
Are x*.png screenshots taken with DxWnd020340try2.rar?
Also, I just got Fallout/Fallout2 and will test them. =)
Ciao!
> Are x*.png screenshots taken with DxWnd020340try2.rar?
Yes, they are. I posted some screenshots with "missing" things:
x4.png doesn't show the inventory icons (there should be a pda line in vpcx4.png)
x5.png I think there should be an attitude menu like in vpcx3.png
x6.png doesn't show the background graphic, like vpcx2.png
Hi gho, Installed full version and I can progress however bugs.
Needs fixing:
1) Window minimized/looses focus => part of window (inside border) isn't refreshed/repainted correctly
2) Subtitles have interlace/scanlines
I'll try to try different settings for #1.
Thx!
> Installed full version ...
What did you mean by full verssion? Did you copy all CD contents on HD, or got a differente DVD release or whatever? In case, pm me some directions ....
> ... however bugs
The same bugs I reported, or something less? I can hardly think that with so many limitations one could really progress in the game.
> Subtitles ...
How do you get subtitles? Maybe I can't set them because the options screen is completely black?
Found here:
http://www.gameboomers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/732231/Re_X_Files_Installation
it claims that some missing visualizations could depend on a wrong QT version and suggests to install QT4 (better than QT3 that is on the CD, that brings audio problems).
I won't be able to make tests for a couple of days, @XDGamer, could you?
Hi gho,
All issues fixed (I think) with DX1, Primary Surface, & QT3 via quicktime.qts, see http://www.mystcommunity.com/board/index.php?/topic/438-riven-myst-quicktime-troubleshooting/
But I can't minimize with window minimize button.
Also,
Full install => Full install via installer
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Fox Interactive\The X-Files\Preferences]
"Closed Captioning"=dword:00000001
Much Thx & Ciao!
Last edit: XD Gamer 2015-10-20
I tried to install QT4 as suggested elsewhere, but I still can't see the inventory icons and the other bugs. Maybe there is some different QT leftover installed somewhere in my pc. Could you post a couple of screenshots showing your results?
Well, at least thank to "Closed Captioning" I can read subtitles ...
I'll try to analyze the minimize problem. I hope some other forum reader will give me a clue.
Hi gho, on W10 x64 with quicktime.qts from QT3 and I can see the Emotion Icons and the Inventory but
- The "Do you want to save your current game" buttons can't be clicked (New Game -> ESC -> New Game) on v2.30.40
- Window minimize button doesn't work still on v2.30.40
I can help you with window minimzie issue, what do you need to know?
Also, I think this game has 3D Sound in game AND Dolby Surround sound in movies.
Cheers & Ciao!
Last edit: XD Gamer 2015-10-22
Ehi, I can't get a copy of quicktime.qts in any way: all links are broken, and installing QT3 from the X-Files CD doesn't bring that file either!
Where did you get it?
About the no minimize issue, just uncheck the Input / "Filter offending messages" option.
Note that QT movie player doesn't listen for window messages while playing movies, so if you want to minimize during a movie you have to click on minimize button and then click on the movie.
Last edit: gho 2015-10-22
Hi gho, unchecking Filter offending works with minimize, however can you add a setting to filter close?
Window minimize button works even during in-game qt movie.
The final issue, "Do you want to save your current game" buttons, may not break the game, I don't know...
Thx for all the good stuff and updates.
>> Window minimize button works even during in-game qt movie
I believe I have leftovers from a previous QT2 installation. After next reboot I'll try to clean that stuff and see if I can get a decent result.
>> .... add a setting to filter close?
What for? If it's to prevent accidental game termination, try checking "Ask confirmation on window close", it does what it tells ....
>> The final issue ....
Can you confirm that it is a new problem since v2.03.40? BTW because of QT2 I can't even see these buttons...
Hi gho,
Ask confirmation on window close works, but the DxWnd Dialog buttons can't be selected. Similiar to the in-game confirmation buttons not being selectable.
The in-game confirmation buttons not working is not new issue.
>> ... the DxWnd Dialog buttons can't be selected ...
I've seen the problem. It happens to other games as well and it is quite annoying. I'll try to fix it.
BTW thank you for the little but precious help about QT: now the game is really playable!
Cheers and thank you!!!
Ach! Things are going to get complicated ....
First fact: the problem of the "Yes"/"No" buttons on the savegame screen is not the same as the "Yes"/"No" buttons on the DxWnd dialog box activated by the "Ask confirmation on window close" flag.
About the latter, I think one can survive without, so let's forget about it right now.
The savegame screen had in reality two problems:
First one is that the "message pump" option was swallowing the mouse clicks quite easily so that one should click several times before surrendering. I fixed that, and the attached dll should make life a little easier now, because this problem was likely to happen everywhere in the game.
Second problem, the clicks were shifted, you should have clicked somewhere else. Fixing this problem should be easy with the "message processing" option. I'm posting the new good exported file.
Unfortunately, problems are not over.... Now, with this configuration, a very strange thing is happening: in the game main menu sometimes the clicks are directed to the right target, sometimes they are not! I'm not joking: if you see that there's a disalignment between mouse pointer and target, if you grab and move the window, then the situation may change and the problem disappear!!! I've never seen such an oddity before. Anyway, right now the situation is tolerable, you don't use the main menu so often, isn't it?
I've got another request, then: thanks to your help, I fixed the QT problems, but the audio is not quite perfect. Someone says that QT4 fixes the audio problems brought by the QT3 distributed in the CD. Have you any idea whether what you showed me was QT3 or QT4 and, if it is QT3, have you any idea about how to get the same file of QT4 release?
Last edit: gho 2015-10-24
Nevermind about QT: I discovered where to look for (my pc in C:\Windows\SysWOW64 !!).
If you replace your quicktime.qts with this one the audio should sound better, that is less crispy.
In any case, don't delete your copy and restore it in place if you won't be satisfied: I'm reading all sort of things about QT on the net, including that for a given game the optimal QT may depend on your pc!!
Hi gho, new DxWnd version not good, nothing is clickable...
Sound better with quicktime 4 qts. Thx!
I've discovered interesting things about mouse event processing. Wait for next release ....
Grab this new dll: it fixes the mouse processing I hope once and for all!
Look at the game screenshot taken in "Desktop work area" setting plus the "Keep aspect ratio": it can manage mouse events perfectly, also taking inproper account the black area to both sides.
Current problems, I believe not related to mouse processing:
1) when I try to go outside the office by using the PDA, the game freezes ....
2) When I exit saving the game, the game freezes. Fortunately, the workaround is to save before and then exit without saving.
Does this release fix the mouse problems?
Do you have the same two problems of mine?
Last edit: gho 2015-10-25
Hi gho, your work is great, sound, menu click, and in game click good.
However, game freezes when saving and at this subtitle (soon after 1st talking with Skinner):
So, okay. What's happening? You can't just sit on this.