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Nyerguds's avatar
Nyerguds
Hero+
11 years ago

Re: C&C3 version 1.09 doesn't like me. Please Help!

That is the game executable, yes. But it is normally ran through a launcher, since you can't launch executables directly unless their extension is .exe; renaming them to .dat is a classic way games use to force users to use the launcher instead, which often gives extra configuration or options to the game. (It's not new. The original 1995 DOS C&C1 has "game.dat" as executable, ran by a tiny "C&C.exe" launcher program)

For example, in C&C3's case, the game's launcher can select a version from the different cnc3game.dat files in the version folders.

But yeah, it's very possible that feature was broken by Origin, then :-\

I'll look further into this, and see if maybe it can be repaired by adding the older version folders manually or something. But if these .dat files themselves were adapted to Origin, that chance is rather low.

4 Replies

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    11 years ago

    I appreciate the help, also is there a way to add patches such as the 1.07 and such?

    or would the 1.09 + origin, likely stand in the way like a big brainless bouncer?

  • Nyerguds's avatar
    Nyerguds
    Hero+
    11 years ago

    I honestly have no idea. I'll see if I can find a moment to install the original DVD game and patch it the normal way, and see if I it works to run one of the earlier versions on Origin after copying over the folders. If so, I might be able to cook up a pack that can help you.

    [edit]

    Oh, it's still on my old hard disk from before I got my new PC. Ideal. I'll get to experimenting.

    do note the problem is not specifically Origin's own copy protection, but the original game's own protection that makes it check for the DVD. Though since the original game's DVD check was rather redundant since the whole game ran from hard disk anyway, it's possible all of those exes have been replaced by no-DVD versions anyway... which would also solve the Origin problem 😕mileytongue:

    (the no-dvd versions were in fact several megabytes smaller than the originals, because of all the extra junk in there to encrypt them without the valid DVD)

    Since I'll just be distributing the exes without any other game data, to fix a legitimate problem in the Origin version, I don't think the 'distributing cracked versions' thing is much of a problem here, by the way.

  • aaronTortego's avatar
    aaronTortego
    6 years ago

    Hi Nyerguds, I have 2 Windows XP computers. One has the Internet on it and the other does not, and the computer that's not on the internet, (ALL) of my games work, Original Copies, Mods,  Dune 2000, and even the older games on Dosbox. So my problem is: I installed Tiberian Wars on the newer computer and it installed ok and it plays for about five minutes and then crashes then I get a candcgame3.dat error message. This is an original copy, playing it from the disk. I'm not running this on Origin or Steam. I don't play online at all . I haven't had a need to.....in the 20+ years I've played cmd and cqr. What do you recommend that I try to get this game going on the new computer. My main Objective is to mod the game with a mod that has a playable mutant faction. That's part of the reason why I have 2 XP computers. I don't want the mod altering the original game on the other computer.....Am I making sense? and Ive tried the 1.09 patch It doesn't work

  • RedcatQS03's avatar
    RedcatQS03
    2 years ago

    i am using cnc3 and it will not let me go online i do not know how to downlond cnc3 1.6

    pls HELP

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