Major graphics problems

[DryBones]

Okay, so I've looked through a bunch of posts here and gathered that my Sis card is why I'm having major graphics problems. However, I had played the demo some years ago and I DON'T remember having such problems for that (I can't even see the menu in the real version, just squares and I can't tell what I'm selecting).

I know for sure the background where you select what level to play had been visible in the demo. I can sort of even remember what it looked like. However that's all messed up in the real version too.

Does anyone know why the DEMO would work better than the real game!? The only thing I believe I've changed on my computer as far as drivers go is I updated Directx for a new game--but that shouldn't cause such a problem I believe. I believe the drivers for my graphics card are still the same.

Anyway, I've also noticed some posts that changing the *desktop* resolution fixed some things for some people--but not on Sis cards. I also noticed some posts that the savegame files have the game resolution saved in them, which gave me an idea. I can't see the menu and thus can't find how to change the game resolution and in game screen depth--but if someone was actually willing to make save files on different resolutions and screen depths I could test those and see if any of them work better. I'm wondering especially if a different in game screen depth would work better.

Would save files be automatic? I mean, are they loaded automatically when you start the game, and set the screen resolution settings?

[Nemesis]

First, believe it or not, the demo does work better than the full version on many computers! That's because the demo is... well... less "picky". Strange but true.
It's a long time ago, but I remember helping someone to try and "trick" the game resolution. I believe it didn't work. I can't remember the details, though. Currently I'm also (unfortunately) unable to supply you with resolution-changed savegames because of the lack of a suitable computer. However, you can try these savegames. The best way to make them work (I guess) is to empty your savegame folder (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Ghost Master\Savegames, put the files somewhere safe!) and copy the new files into it. That way the game should recognize them no matter what.
Try that first. I don't give it a big chance of success, but who knows...?

[DryBones]

I tried the saves and yeah they didn't help.

I figured it was pointless to respond though until I found the PC Gamer disc with the demo again, and tested it out to make sure it still worked the same as last time. I finally found it, and to my surprise the demo was just as glitched as the regular game now.

The date on the disc though I think gave away what happened. It was dated September 2003 - earlier than I would have guessed. I think now what must have happened is I had just tried the demo very shortly before I got the computer I now have, which is why it worked just fine before. I guess I must have not tried Ghostmaster on this one after all.

Anyway now that I know that I'm not sure how much it would be worth trying to get it working on this computer, given that it has a Sis and apparently the demo doesn't even work right on it. There hasn't really been any successes with Sis cards, right?

And how did this game sell so bad if they even got the demo placed on the PC Gamer CD back in the day? You'd think that would have gotten it more attention, at least in the US.

[Nemesis]

No luck with SiS cards. Sorry. And Ghost Master got plenty attention. The problem is that the game is a bit of a disappointment in some ways. It's rather buggy with a lot of glitches and other weird stuff. The game is also rather choosy when it comes to graphic cards (!). Add to that the facts that there was no Bonus Scenario released for the US version, no editor included to make custom content and the entire thing floated on a very nice idea that unfortunately wasn't worked out so well (game controls, storyline, levels, ghosts, etc.)... Well, you get the picture!

[lucicam]

but is this game is a little buggy ... why don't they make patches for the game to fix those problems ?

[Nemesis]

Sick Puppies made a few patches. Sadly the company went out of business before they could make more.

[Michelle]

I cannot get this game to show any video on my computer. I can hear the music in the background and I can see the green arrow for the mouse, but nothing else.

Anyone have any idea what I can do?

[Nemesis]

It's just a black screen with a cursor? No videos or menus or anything else?

[Michelle]

It's just a black screen with the green arrow. I can hear the music, but cannot see anything. I can't figure out why, my computer is only a few years old. I'm using windows XP, Nvidia, windows media player 11... I would love to try this game out...

[Nemesis]

Did you update your video drivers? Are they up-to-date (as far as you know)?