Arokhslair.net

Hi, I recently installed Drakan and installed the 444 patch, 445 patch, and tried the 445++ patch to no avail. I've been trying to use a save game at ruined village and every time I try to run it my game stalls at the loading screen. It also does this when I try to make a new game with developer mode. I've also tried running my colors at 16 bit but it still stalls. The loading screen only seems to stall when I have patch 445 installed. If I run patch 444 or below, the game just asks for a cd.

I'm running Win 7 64 bit with a Nvidia GeForce GTX 680. I've got the game to run on this computer before, so I'm sure there is some way, I've just forgotten how.

I'm guessing it could be corrupted installation. Does it help if you completely uninstall the game, reinstall it then only apply the official 445 patch found here?

I believe there is more than one variant of 445 patch. When I freshly install the game from original CD and launch it, the string in lower-left corner of main menu says I have version 374/445. After installation of 445 patch found on this site, it says version 375/445, which is also the latest. I'm saying just in case it has something to do with your problem. but since you got it running before...

Also, patch 445++ is really obsolete now so once you got the game to load the first level with the official 445 patch with the help of developer mode, I recommend you to upgrade to AiO Patch. It fixes everything 445++ fixes plus so much more.

EDIT: Ok I'm out of ideas, I've just read somewhere else on these forums about someone getting the game to work by installing 444 patch and after that 445 patch, which is what you did.

Thanks for the reply! I'm pretty sure it isn't a corrupt installation because I've reinstalled with a retail CD 3-4 times trying different combinations of patches and mods. I delved through the forum and online how to fix this, so I've really tried nearly everything.

I've uninstalled it again just now and reinstalled with the Drakan 445 patch you linked. It DID appear as build 375/445 on the bottom. I tried installing the AiO Patch afterwards which didnt really do anything to fix the problem. Nice job on the patch by the way, I can't wait to run this game in a better resolution once I get it to work.

And now I uninstalled it AGAIN to see if the 444 + 445 + AiO Patch combination would work, and I still have the same problem. I also tried to use the default installation directory instead of the custom one (out of desperation).

The 445 patch , is the no cd patch, run it! Your issue is a video freeze, assosiated with the Gforce card. There is a download fix for this, 445++ patch, although I would recommend the AiO patch as it covers many more issues with the game.

Nowadays hardware, run everything maxed out.

Well, he already tried patching the game to 445, then applying AiO Patch and it still didn't work for some reason. That crash after selecting difficulty is a different problem and it occurs on every modern graphics card without unofficial patches, be it Intel, AMD or nVidia.

I managed to get CD image of one of the fist versions (365/435), patched it to 444 then to 445 and the singleplayer worked with the help of developer mode. I was hoping to reproduce your problem somehow, but without success.

And how does the stall actually look like? Does the "loading" sign appear and then just stays there? Do cinematic videos play if you run the game normally in non-developer mode? Can you host your own multiplayer game with the game patched to AiO patch by selecting Multiplayer from main menu, clicking Host Game and afterwards Begin Game?

Oh, and one more thing about graphics settings. I would recommend to everyone to disable Lens Flare Effects as they make the game very laggy when lightning effects are showing up.

The loading sign appears, it doesn't load at all, and it just stays there. The music still plays and everything but the loading bar just stays empty. Without developer mode the intro cinematic runs fine, if that's what you were asking.

Multiplayer is a bit more interesting though, because once I click multiplayer, the loading bar goes all the way up and then the game suddenly crashes with "Engine has stopped working". I cant even get to the part where I can host a game. I tried all of this with 444 + 445+ AiO.

If it stalls on loading, then one or more files are either corrupt or missing, hmm just thinkin!

I really can't think of any other logical reason besides some of the files being corrupted or missing. Could be faulty CD, faulty optical drive,... But just to be sure, I'm attaching a file which you can use to check the integrity of your game files:

1. Make sure Drakan is freshly installed and patched to 445 (I know this is getting tiresome, but still).
2. Extract the file CHECKSUM.md5 from the attachment to your Drakan installation directory.
3. Download Md5Checker from here and unzip it to anywhere you want it and launch it. It's a free portable program for file integrity checking and won't leave any traces on your computer.
4. Inside the program, click button Add and then point the program to the CHECKSUM.md5 file, which you extracted to your Drakan dir earlier.
5. Your files will be checked and any file that don't pass the test will be marked with X sign in the file list. Missing files are marked with exclamation mark. You can use those buttons just above the file list to show only bad files (Failed), missing files (N/A) etc.

Then just post your test results, by either taking a screenshot of the list of failed and/or missing files or just select all failed/missing files in the list and click on Copy paths. It's possible that files drakan.tln and Islands.ssd will fail the test since their latest incarnations seem to be avaialable only on newer retail CD, which has the game patched to 374/445 and the latest 445 patch doesn't do anything about them. What difference do they make, I have no idea.

And if this problem really doesn't have anything to do with your files, then I really don't know what else to suggest. I'd say that maybe some background program is interfering with the game, but since the intro plays, which is actually just some sort of special map, that just doesn't make much sense because well, game has already successfully loaded and played the very first map. Why shouldn't it be able to load Ruined Village? Or the multiplayer menu?

Well, wow, here's all my missing files:

D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Volcanic World\Volcano\Volcano.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Volcanic World\Volcano\Volcano.ssd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Volcanic World\Volcano\Volcano.sdb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Volcanic World\Volcano\Volcano.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Volcanic World\Volcano\volcano.lvl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Volcanic World\Volcano\Volcano.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Volcanic World\Volcano\Volcano.adb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Volcanic World\Volcano\Volcano World Textures.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Volcanic World\Volcano\Volcano World Textures.odb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Volcanic World\Volcano\Volcano World Textures.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\System\mpdrakan.mpi
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Rift World\Rift World\RiftWorld.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Rift World\Rift World\RiftWorld.ssd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Rift World\Rift World\RiftWorld.sdb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Rift World\Rift World\RiftWorld.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Rift World\Rift World\RiftWorld.lvl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Rift World\Rift World\RiftWorld.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Rift World\Rift World\RiftWorld Textures.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Rift World\Rift World\RiftWorld Textures.odb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Rift World\Rift World\RiftWorld Textures.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\QOD\Volcano of Death\Volcano World Textures.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\QOD\Volcano of Death\Volcano World Textures.odb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\QOD\Volcano of Death\Volcano World Textures.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\QOD\Volcano of Death\Volcano of Death.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\QOD\Volcano of Death\Volcano of Death.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\QOD\Rise to Power\Rise to Power.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\QOD\Rise to Power\Rise to Power.lvl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\QOD\Rise to Power\Rise to Power.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\QOD\island of Death\Island of Death.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\QOD\island of Death\Island of Death.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\QOD\island of Death\Island of Death.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Master of the Dragon.lfl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Ground Only.lfl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Ground\Sanctuary\Sanctuary.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Ground\Sanctuary\Sanctuary.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Ground\Relic\Relic.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Ground\Relic\Relic.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Ground\Relic\Relic.lvl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Ground\Relic\Relic.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Ground\Hill of Fire\Hill of Fire.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Ground\Hill of Fire\Hill of Fire.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Air Only.lfl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Air\Nemesis\Nemesis.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Air\Nemesis\Nemesis.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Air\Nemesis\Nemesis.lvl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Air\Nemesis\Nemesis.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Air\Grotto of Death\Grotto of Death.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Air\Grotto of Death\Grotto of Death.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Air\Grotto of Death\Grotto of Death.lvl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Air\Grotto of Death\Grotto of Death.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Air\Arena of Death\Arena of Death.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Air\Arena of Death\Arena of Death.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Air\Arena of Death\Arena of Death.lvl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Air\Arena of Death\Arena of Death.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Air\Alwarren of Death\Alwarren of Death.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Air\Alwarren of Death\Alwarren of Death.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Multiplayer\Air\Alwarren of Death\Alwarren of Death.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Wartok Canyons\Wartok Canyons.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Wartok Canyons\Wartok Canyons.ssd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Wartok Canyons\Wartok Canyons.sdb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Wartok Canyons\Wartok Canyons.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Wartok Canyons\Wartok Canyons.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Wartok Canyons\Wartok Canyons.adb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Ruined Village\Ruined Village.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Ruined Village\Ruined Village.sdb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Ruined Village\Ruined Village.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Ruined Village\Ruined Village.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Ruined Village\Ruined Village Book.lvl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Ruined Village\Ruin Book.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Ruined Village\Ruin Book.ssd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Ruined Village\Ruin Book.sdb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Ruined Village\Ruin Book.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Ruined Village\Ruin Book.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Grotto\Grotto.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Grotto\Grotto.ssd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Grotto\Grotto.sdb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Grotto\Grotto.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Grotto\grotto.lvl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Grotto\Grotto.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Grimstone Mines\mines.lvl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Grimstone Mines\Grimstone Mines.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Grimstone Mines\Grimstone Mines.ssd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Grimstone Mines\Grimstone Mines.sdb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Grimstone Mines\Grimstone Mines.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Grimstone Mines\Grimstone Mines.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Mountain World\Grimstone Mines\Grimstone Mines.adb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Succubus Lair\Succubus Lair.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Succubus Lair\Succubus Lair.ssd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Succubus Lair\Succubus Lair.sdb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Succubus Lair\Succubus Lair.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Succubus Lair\Succubus Lair.lvl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Succubus Lair\Succubus Lair.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Succubus Lair\Succubus Lair.adb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Rift Crystal\Rift Crystal.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Rift Crystal\Rift Crystal.ssd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Rift Crystal\Rift Crystal.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Rift Crystal\rift crystal.lvl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Rift Crystal\Rift Crystal.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Rift Crystal\Rift Crystal.adb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Islands Night\Islands Night.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Islands Night\Islands Night.ssd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Islands Night\Islands Night.sdb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Islands Night\Islands Night.mpl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Islands Night\Islands Night.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Islands Night\Islands Night.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Islands\Islands.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Islands\Islands.ssd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Islands\Islands.sdb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Islands\Islands.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Islands\islands.lvl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Islands\Islands.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Alwarren\Alwarren.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Alwarren\Alwarren.ssd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Alwarren\Alwarren.sdb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Alwarren\Alwarren.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Alwarren\Alwarren.lvl
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Alwarren\Alwarren.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Islands World\Alwarren\Alwarren.adb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Common\Skins\Skins.odb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Common\Skins\Skins.db
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Common\NPC\NPCs.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Common\NPC\NPCs.sdb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Common\Multiplayer\Multiplayer Common.txd
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Common\Multiplayer\Multiplayer Common.sdb
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Common\Multiplayer\Multiplayer Common.mod
D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\Common\Multiplayer\Multiplayer Common.db

And here's a file that failed:

D:\Games\Psygnosis\Drakan\System\drakan.tln

Well, your problem are obviously missing game files. The only mystery that remains unsolved is why they aren't installing. If installation from your CD also fails on some other computer, then there must be something wrong with the CD itself. If not, then I really don't know what else to suggest besides that you could download AXE's Drakan Gold Pack from this site. It contains everything (the base game, all player created levels, level editor etc.) except the latest version of AiO Patch since I just released it today. You can get that here.

Alright, I'll just download that. Thank you for all of your help!

Okay, have fun with the game!