Hey Guys, I suppose this is my first post in your websites forum's , but it seems I don't really have another choice. Becouse of waiting for the damn game Spore to come out (being delayed and crap..) I started looking for games similar to it. I downloaded Sim Earth from your website and was really pleased. But that just wasn't enough. And so after a while I was mindlesly browsing abandonware websites and hopelessly reading reviews, when suddenly I stumbled upon a game that promised a whole bunch of genetics crap combined with simulation from SimEarth. It blew my mind. I had to get it... wait a sec what the heck am I typing?! ;D Anyways I downloaded the game and installed it. I started exe file and just when I thought I'll be playing a damn masterpiece in moment...... Error. Not an error actually. The game's window loads for an eternity :< Now , because I haven't found SimLife on abandonia , I suppose chances aren't that great that you could help me. If you can though, please do ;] Oh, and by the way, keep up the fantastic work with forums and the site , the gaming community needs you :ok:

Which OS do you use? Did you try running it with DOSBox?

Oh yes, I did. It said that exe file must be run through windows. Anyway, I searched the internet today and found a ziped version of already installed SimLife. It worked so I guess this it =] Thanks for your concern anyway ;] By the way, I don't know if this game is abandonware already. I seen it on some site which asked $5
(!) for it :blink: In any case it is an old game and I doubt anyone would pay such money for it... Well, good-day to ya and goodluck ;]

Hello, community!

My first post... exciting. My english isn´t that good anymore, but i will give it a try. School was out some time ago. Not much to tell from my side - i am from germany and in real trouble with Simlife. Perhaps somebody is able to help me.

I own the Windows-Version "ReCreation" and it runs fine (beside some graphic issues) - but there is one thing that ruins all fun in the long run. Problem is the slider which adjustes the Change of clima/erosion in the "change physics" menu. The pre-given setting of this slider is in the middle. But i don´t want any changes to happen to the landscape/clima. When i set the slider to my wish (e. g. all the way to the left for "no erosion/climate change"), apply this change and control it after that, the slider is in the middle of the bar again. So my world changes as time goes by, and that is something that i simply don´t want in a long-time experiment because it influences things beyond my control.

What the heck am i missing?! A bug? Nothing found about that in the web... this is so disturbing! This wonderful toy was one reason to install a win7-32-bit.

The one(s) who can help can be sure to be praised every minute i run my toy:cry:.

I hope this was posted on the right place.

Anyway: greetings!

Hi, RoccoD and welcome!

Some settings are different for old and new Windowses. In particular, it affects the places where system seeks for the system files, save files and registry entry.

Windows usually offer simple way to circumvent some issues: right click on the main exe, select "Properties" then "Compatibility". Try to lower Win version here step by step (i.e. XP, if not works - 98, and at last 95). It must help, if your problem is from this zone (as it sounds).

Alternatively, if it will _not_ help, search Windows and My Documents directory for installed preference files. Most companies put settings here directly. Or seek Windows registry for the game - registry was very popular place to put such info in the earlier Windows versions.

Hello, SmilingSpectre!

Thanks for the fast response (and your welcome):-)!

I have absolutely no problems to get SimLife run - it is just that damned slider for the in-game-setting "soil/climate change" that doesn´t remember the position i moved it to. When i change his position (tiny change - left/huge change - right), click "apply" and see after it for control it stands again in the middle of the bar (seems to be the standard position). I want my world to stay the same and change soil, climate etc. by myself when i think it is necessary.

BTW: same problem in the DOS-Version... couldn´t resist to give it a try. I guess i make a totally stupid error...

I heard you, RoccoD. :) And it must mean in my eyes that system cannot access settings - either because it simply cannot found setting file (and goes by default), either because it cannot write into it. In both cases compatibility can help.

And if it will _not_ help, it's always useful to found settings manually (in noted places) and try to tweak it. Manually. :)

If both methods will fail... well, then I'll check further. :D

Ahhh... understood. OK - i will give it a try when at home and report! You stired up hope.

Thanks! Shall i see the working super-sandpit a least?

It didn´t work - different modes tested, registry and Mydocuments searched (nothing found - it doesn´t even leave a fingerprint in "Installed software").

As it doesn´t work in the Dos-Version (via Dosbox, just tested again) either, i am quite sure the problem is not something like a separate ini-file as the settings for every running game are saved in the (e. g.) RoccosWorld.sav.

I even had the idea of reversed buttons (apply/set defaults/nevermind)... but no success.

Hmmm...

Challenge accepted. ;) I'll check it at the weekend.

Yes, sir:)!

Awaiting further instructions.

Hmm. Very strange. I cannot access Windows-version right now (Win3.1 requires too much efforts. :/, but yes, I checked DOS, and yes, it refuses to set this slider for me. :( And as everything _else_ works perfectly, I suspect, yes, we are missing something... Sorry, I have no idea what is it.

Yep, very strange.

Sad thing. It makes no sense to create a wonderful, detailed zoo, plants and bulding a huge world to the smallest piece to see it going more and more strange, watch mass-extinctions and so on.

A bug in such an essential setting... hard to believe:cry:.

Anyway, thanks for your efforts & the test - to see that somebody cares for such a problem (the problem of a completlely strange person) is a nice experience!

Maybe someone else can help? Nobody who remembers this could-be-gem?

Had another idea - simply change that d*** setting in the SAV-file. But as i have no identical files with just the different settings to compare and without that no idea where to search the value in the file it makes little to no sense to search with a hex-editor... it´s a scream.

Well, actually, it's not so futile, as it sounds... I'll try it. ;)

Solved.

Settings are goes after second identical four-letter sequence (OZLS for my "experimental mode", but it's different for other saves). I think, first sequence limit variables for "default" settings, while second is for the "current" ones.

But it's everything but slider.

Slider and some other mysterious settings goes after H0150 up to FF FF sequence at H019B. I have no idea what all of them does, but byte H0154 _is_ slider position, measured from 00 (zero) to FF (max). Default is 7F, obviously.

I hope, it's not only visual difference, while other bytes regulate actual behavior. :) Anyway - now you know where to search. :)

BTW, in manual I seen words like "you are free to exchange your worlds between platforms" - try Amiga/Mac versions for this settings? I can be wrong though.

Alter Schwede.

I´ll try it as soon as possible and will report.

Found it, worked on it, saved it...

and am speecheless. Is it really true? Damage should not be done as the correction was extremely limited...

Starting long-time-test very soon - report will follow.

Seems to work perfectly to me:OK:.

Now i can build my gigantic anthill, my Kong-Island, work with mutation under transparent circumstances...

Many, many thanks!

I am glad to help you. :D

Hahaha I love this site so much :loveab: