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Difference between revisions of "The Thing"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
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'''General information'''
 
'''General information'''
 
{{mm}} [http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/thing MobyGames entry]
 
{{mm}} [http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/thing MobyGames entry]
 +
{{mm}} [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxsbDidz2GY Gggmanlives review]
  
 
==Availability==
 
==Availability==
Line 29: Line 30:
  
 
==Game data==
 
==Game data==
−
===Configuration file(s) location===
+
===Location of settings in the registry ===
 
{{Game data|
 
{{Game data|
−
{{Game data/config|Windows|{{p|hkcu}}\SOFTWARE\Computer Artworks\The Thing\1.0\}}
+
{{Game data/config|Windows|{{p|hkcu}}\SOFTWARE\Computer Artworks\The Thing\1.0|{{P|hklm}}\SOFTWARE\{{p|wow64}}\Computer Artworks\The Thing\1.0}}<br>
 +
The Thing stores it's settings in the registry, not a settings file, the first path is for 32-bit (x86) Windows and the second for 64-bit (x64):
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 82: Line 84:
 
===[[Glossary:Widescreen resolution|Widescreen resolution]]===
 
===[[Glossary:Widescreen resolution|Widescreen resolution]]===
 
{{Fixbox|description=Change resolution and aspect ratio|ref=<ref>{{refurl|url=http://www.wsgf.org/dr/thing/en|title=The Thing - WSGF|date=November 30, 2016}}</ref>|fix=
 
{{Fixbox|description=Change resolution and aspect ratio|ref=<ref>{{refurl|url=http://www.wsgf.org/dr/thing/en|title=The Thing - WSGF|date=November 30, 2016}}</ref>|fix=
−
# Go to <code>{{p|hkcu}}\SOFTWARE\{{p|wow64}}\Computer Artworks\The Thing\1.0\</code>.
+
# Open {{file|TheThing.exe}} with a hex editor such as [https://mh-nexus.de/en/downloads.php?product=HxD HxD]
−
# Change <code>DisplayModeWidth</code> and <code>DisplayModeHeight</code> to the desired resolution.
+
# Find the hex values <code>AB AA AA 3F</code>
−
# Open {{file|TheThing.exe}} with a hex editor such as [https://mh-nexus.de/en/downloads.php?product=HxD HxD].
+
# Replace with the desired aspect ratio
−
# Find the hex values <code>AB AA AA 3F</code>.
 
−
# Replace with the desired aspect ratio.
 
 
#* <code>CD CC CC 3F</code> for 16:10 screens
 
#* <code>CD CC CC 3F</code> for 16:10 screens
 
#* <code>39 8E E3 3F</code> for 16:9 screens
 
#* <code>39 8E E3 3F</code> for 16:9 screens
−
#* <code>CD 90 18 40</code> for 21:9 screens
+
#* <code>CD 90 18 40</code> for 21:9 screens<br>
 +
(You can set the resolution in the menu or by hand in the registry.)
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 180: Line 181:
 
==Issues fixed==
 
==Issues fixed==
 
===White screen, no intro movie error===
 
===White screen, no intro movie error===
−
{{ii}} When you get just a white (and then black) screen when starting, it means the data path is missing.
+
{{ii}} If you get a white and black screen when starting or see broken menu graphics, it means the data paths are missing.
  
−
{{Fixbox|description=Reinstall the game|ref={{cn|date=May 2018}}|fix=
+
{{Fixbox|description=Reinstall the game|fix=
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
{{Fixbox|description=Add necessary path to the registry|ref={{cn|date=May 2018}}|fix=
+
{{Fixbox|description=Or add the necessary paths to the registry by hand:|fix=
−
# Add the following code block to a text editor.
+
# Copy the following code block to a text editor
−
# Edit accordingly, save as a <code>.reg</code> file, and run it.
+
# Save as a <code>.reg</code> file and run (merge) it
  
 
<pre>Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
 
<pre>Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Computer Artworks\The Thing\1.0\]
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Computer Artworks\The Thing\1.0\]
 
"RESOURCEDIR"="c:\\thething\\data;c:\\thething\\data\\mainui.pak"</pre>
 
"RESOURCEDIR"="c:\\thething\\data;c:\\thething\\data\\mainui.pak"</pre>
−
(if your game is not installed to c:\thething then edit the path accordingly)
+
Or for 64-bit (x64) Windows:<br>
 +
<pre>Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
 +
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Computer Artworks\The Thing\1.0\]
 +
"RESOURCEDIR"="c:\\thething\\data;c:\\thething\\data\\mainui.pak"</pre>
 +
(If your game is not installed to c:\thething then edit the paths accordingly!)
 
}}
 
}}
  

Revision as of 14:07, 29 May 2018

The Thing
The Thing cover
Developers
Computer Artworks
Publishers
Vivendi Universal Games
Release dates
Windows August 20, 2002
The Thing on Wikipedia
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png

General information

MobyGames entry
Gggmanlives review

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
 Patch 1.2 removes disc check.
Windows
This game is not available digitally.

Essential improvements

Patches

Patch 1.2 removes disc check and adds mouse look (enable in options under advanced controls).

Game data

Location of settings in the registry


The Thing stores it's settings in the registry, not a settings file, the first path is for 32-bit (x86) Windows and the second for 64-bit (x64):
System Location
Windows HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Computer Artworks\The Thing\1.0
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Computer Artworks\The Thing\1.0[Note 1]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\bin\[Note 2]

Video settings

Game settings.
Game settings.
Audio and video settings.
Audio and video settings.
Key mappings screen.
Key mappings screen.
Advanced controls.
Advanced controls.

Template:Video settings

Widescreen resolution

Change resolution and aspect ratio[1]
  1. Open TheThing.exe with a hex editor such as HxD
  2. Find the hex values AB AA AA 3F
  3. Replace with the desired aspect ratio
    • CD CC CC 3F for 16:10 screens
    • 39 8E E3 3F for 16:9 screens
    • CD 90 18 40 for 21:9 screens

(You can set the resolution in the menu or by hand in the registry.)

Input settings

Template:Input settings

Audio settings

Template:Audio settings

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English

Issues fixed

White screen, no intro movie error

If you get a white and black screen when starting or see broken menu graphics, it means the data paths are missing.
Reinstall the game
Or add the necessary paths to the registry by hand:
  1. Copy the following code block to a text editor
  2. Save as a .reg file and run (merge) it
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Computer Artworks\The Thing\1.0\]
"RESOURCEDIR"="c:\\thething\\data;c:\\thething\\data\\mainui.pak"

Or for 64-bit (x64) Windows:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Computer Artworks\The Thing\1.0\]
"RESOURCEDIR"="c:\\thething\\data;c:\\thething\\data\\mainui.pak"

(If your game is not installed to c:\thething then edit the paths accordingly!)

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 8
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

System requirements

Windows[2]
Minimum
Operating system (OS) 98
Processor (CPU) Intel Pentium II
System memory (RAM) 64 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 600 MB
Video card (GPU) 3D Accelerator Required
8 MB of VRAM
DirectX 8 compatible

Notes

  1. ↑ Applications writing to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE will be redirected to other locations based on various criterias, see the glossary page for more details.
  2. ↑ When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below %PROGRAMFILES%, %PROGRAMDATA%, or %WINDIR% might be redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore on Windows Vista and later (more details).

References

  1. ↑ The Thing - WSGF - last accessed on November 30, 2016
  2. ↑ The Thing for Windows (2002) Tech Info - MobyGames - last accessed on November 30, 2016