Anonymous edits have been disabled on the wiki. If you want to contribute please login or create an account.


Warning for game developers: PCGamingWiki staff members will only ever reach out to you using the official press@pcgamingwiki.com mail address.
Be aware of scammers claiming to be representatives or affiliates of PCGamingWiki who promise a PCGW page for a game key.

Difference between revisions of "Sonic's Schoolhouse"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
m
 
(149 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{stub}}
 
 
{{Infobox game
 
{{Infobox game
|cover        = Sonic's Schoolhouse cover.jpg
+
|cover        = Sonic's Schoolhouse cover.png
 
|developers  =  
 
|developers  =  
 
{{Infobox game/row/developer|BAP Interactive}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/developer|BAP Interactive}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Orion Interactive}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Orion Interactive}}
 
|publishers  =  
 
|publishers  =  
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Sega}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Sega Entertainment}}
|engines      =  
+
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Expert Software|Re-release}}
 +
|engines      = {{Infobox game/row/engine|I3D|build=2.1|ref=<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Mystyle48|date=2023-10-06|comment=Opening {{File|SONIC.EXE}} in ImHex and going to address 0x0002C480 reveals the following text: "I3D Tool Kit 2.1 (c)1993-94 Jim O'Keane"}}</ref>}}
 
|release dates=  
 
|release dates=  
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows 3.x|October 18, 1996}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|October 18, 1996|ref=<ref name="release">{{Refurl|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970605161155/http://www.sega.com/segapc/news/releases/orion.html|title=SEGA ENTERTAINMENT, ORION INTERACTIVE BRING FUN AND GAMES TO PC LEARNING SOFTWARE (retrieved)|date=2023-05-18|snippet=The title will be available, for children ages five to nine, nationwide on October 18 for a suggested retail price of $34.99.}}</ref>}}
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|October 18, 1996}}
+
|reception    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/reception|IGDB|sonics-schoolhouse|}}
 +
|taxonomy    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization      | One-time game purchase }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes            | Singleplayer, Multiplayer }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing            | Real-time }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives      | First-person }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls          | Direct control, Point and select }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres            | Educational }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/sports            | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles          | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles        | Cartoon, Pre-rendered graphics }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes            | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series            | Sonic the Hedgehog }}
 
|steam appid  =  
 
|steam appid  =  
 
|steam appid side  =  
 
|steam appid side  =  
 
|gogcom id    =  
 
|gogcom id    =  
 
|gogcom id side =  
 
|gogcom id side =  
 +
|official site= https://web.archive.org/web/20070816193822/http://www.bapi.com/sonics.htm
 +
|hltb        = 57320
 +
|lutris      = sonics-schoolhouse
 +
|mobygames    = 85479
 
|strategywiki =  
 
|strategywiki =  
|wikipedia    =  
+
|wikipedia    = Sonic's Schoolhouse
|winehq      =  
+
|winehq      = 15610
 
|license      = commercial
 
|license      = commercial
 
}}
 
}}
{{Series|Sonic the Hedgehog}}
+
 
 +
{{Introduction
 +
|introduction      = '''''Sonic's Schoolhouse''''' is a {{Glossary:Singleplayer}} and {{Glossary:Multiplayer}} {{Glossary:First-person}} {{Glossary:Educational}} game in the ''[[Series:Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' series developed by [[Company:BAP Interactive|BAP Interactive]] and [[Company:Orion Interactive|Orion Interactive]] and published by [[Company:Sega Entertainment|Sega Entertainment]].
 +
 
 +
|release history  = The game was released for [[Windows]] on October 18, 1996.<ref name="release"/>
 +
 
 +
|current state    = ''Sonic's Schoolhouse'' suffers from various compatibility issues on modern systems. Most issues can be resolved with [[Windows Compatibility Mode|compatibility settings]] and third-party programs.
 +
}}
  
 
==Availability==
 
==Availability==
 
{{Availability|
 
{{Availability|
{{Availability/row| retail | | unknown | |  | Windows 3.x, Windows }}
+
{{Availability/row| Retail | | Disc | See [[#Run without the CD|Run without the CD]]. |  | Windows }}
 
}}
 
}}
{{ii}} This game is not available digitally.
 
  
 
==Game data==
 
==Game data==
 
===Configuration file(s) location===
 
===Configuration file(s) location===
 
{{Game data|
 
{{Game data|
{{Game data/config|Windows|}}
+
{{Game data/config|Windows|{{P|windir}}\SONICSH.INI}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
===Save game data location===
 
===Save game data location===
 
{{Game data|
 
{{Game data|
{{Game data/saves|Windows|}}
+
{{Game data/saves|Windows|{{P|windir}}\SONICSH.INI}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
==Video settings==
+
==Video==
{{Video settings
+
{{Video
 
|wsgf link                  =  
 
|wsgf link                  =  
 
|widescreen wsgf award      =  
 
|widescreen wsgf award      =  
Line 47: Line 71:
 
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    =  
 
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    =  
 
|widescreen resolution      = false
 
|widescreen resolution      = false
|widescreen resolution notes=  
+
|widescreen resolution notes= 640x480 only.
 
|multimonitor              = false
 
|multimonitor              = false
 
|multimonitor notes        =  
 
|multimonitor notes        =  
Line 53: Line 77:
 
|ultrawidescreen notes      =  
 
|ultrawidescreen notes      =  
 
|4k ultra hd                = false
 
|4k ultra hd                = false
|4k ultra hd notes          =  
+
|4k ultra hd notes          =
 
|fov                        = false
 
|fov                        = false
 
|fov notes                  =  
 
|fov notes                  =  
 
|windowed                  = false
 
|windowed                  = false
 
|windowed notes            =  
 
|windowed notes            =  
|borderless windowed        = false
+
|borderless windowed        = limited
|borderless windowed notes  =  
+
|borderless windowed notes  = Prone to multiple graphical issues, such as disappearing/black UI elements and [[#Game window does not scale to screen|incorrect window scaling]].<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Mystyle48|date=2023-11-11}}</ref>
 
|anisotropic                = false
 
|anisotropic                = false
 
|anisotropic notes          =  
 
|anisotropic notes          =  
 
|antialiasing              = false
 
|antialiasing              = false
 
|antialiasing notes        =  
 
|antialiasing notes        =  
 +
|upscaling                  = false
 +
|upscaling tech            =
 +
|upscaling notes            =
 
|vsync                      = false
 
|vsync                      = false
 
|vsync notes                =  
 
|vsync notes                =  
 
|60 fps                    = false
 
|60 fps                    = false
|60 fps notes              = This game is capped at 15 fps.
+
|60 fps notes              =  
 
|120 fps                    = false
 
|120 fps                    = false
 
|120 fps notes              =  
 
|120 fps notes              =  
Line 76: Line 103:
 
}}
 
}}
  
==Input settings==
+
==Input==
{{Input settings
+
{{Input
|key remap                = unknown
+
|key remap                = false
 
|key remap notes          =  
 
|key remap notes          =  
|acceleration option      = unknown
+
|acceleration option      = false
 
|acceleration option notes =  
 
|acceleration option notes =  
|mouse sensitivity        = unknown
+
|mouse sensitivity        = false
 
|mouse sensitivity notes  =  
 
|mouse sensitivity notes  =  
 
|mouse menu                = true
 
|mouse menu                = true
 
|mouse menu notes          =  
 
|mouse menu notes          =  
|invert mouse y-axis      = unknown
+
|invert mouse y-axis      = false
 
|invert mouse y-axis notes =  
 
|invert mouse y-axis notes =  
 
|touchscreen              = unknown
 
|touchscreen              = unknown
 
|touchscreen notes        =  
 
|touchscreen notes        =  
|controller support        = unknown
+
|controller support        = true
 
|controller support notes  =  
 
|controller support notes  =  
|full controller          = unknown
+
|full controller          = false
 
|full controller notes    =  
 
|full controller notes    =  
|controller remap          = unknown
+
|controller remap          = false
 
|controller remap notes    =  
 
|controller remap notes    =  
|controller sensitivity    = unknown
+
|controller sensitivity    = false
 
|controller sensitivity notes=  
 
|controller sensitivity notes=  
|invert controller y-axis  = unknown
+
|invert controller y-axis  = false
 
|invert controller y-axis notes=  
 
|invert controller y-axis notes=  
|xinput controllers        = unknown
+
|xinput controllers        = true
 
|xinput controllers notes  =  
 
|xinput controllers notes  =  
|xbox prompts              = unknown
+
|xbox prompts              = false
 
|xbox prompts notes        =  
 
|xbox prompts notes        =  
|impulse triggers          = unknown
+
|impulse triggers          = false
 
|impulse triggers notes    =  
 
|impulse triggers notes    =  
 
|dualshock 4              = unknown
 
|dualshock 4              = unknown
Line 118: Line 145:
 
|tracked motion prompts    = unknown
 
|tracked motion prompts    = unknown
 
|tracked motion prompts notes =  
 
|tracked motion prompts notes =  
|other controllers        = unknown
+
|other controllers        = true
|other controllers notes  =  
+
|other controllers notes  = DirectInput controllers are supported.
 
|other button prompts      = unknown
 
|other button prompts      = unknown
 
|other button prompts notes=  
 
|other button prompts notes=  
|controller hotplug        = unknown
+
|controller hotplug        = false
 
|controller hotplug notes  =  
 
|controller hotplug notes  =  
|haptic feedback          = unknown
+
|haptic feedback          = false
 
|haptic feedback notes    =  
 
|haptic feedback notes    =  
|simultaneous input        = unknown
+
|simultaneous input        = false
 
|simultaneous input notes  =  
 
|simultaneous input notes  =  
 
|steam input api          = unknown
 
|steam input api          = unknown
Line 140: Line 167:
 
}}
 
}}
  
==Audio settings==
+
==Audio==
{{Audio settings
+
{{Audio
|separate volume          = unknown
+
|separate volume          = limited
|separate volume notes    =  
+
|separate volume notes    = On/off toggle for music only.
 
|surround sound          = unknown
 
|surround sound          = unknown
 
|surround sound notes    =  
 
|surround sound notes    =  
|subtitles                = unknown
+
|subtitles                = false
 
|subtitles notes          =  
 
|subtitles notes          =  
|closed captions          = unknown
+
|closed captions          = false
 
|closed captions notes    =  
 
|closed captions notes    =  
|mute on focus lost      = unknown
+
|mute on focus lost      = false
 
|mute on focus lost notes =  
 
|mute on focus lost notes =  
 
|eax support              =  
 
|eax support              =  
 
|eax support notes        =  
 
|eax support notes        =  
 +
|royalty free audio      = unknown
 +
|royalty free audio notes =
 +
|red book cd audio        =
 +
|red book cd audio notes  =
 +
|general midi audio      = true
 +
|general midi audio notes =
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 161: Line 194:
 
  |interface = true
 
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = true
 
  |audio    = true
  |subtitles = unknown
+
  |subtitles = false
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |fan      =  
 
  |fan      =  
 
  |ref      =  
 
  |ref      =  
 
}}
 
}}
 +
}}
 +
 +
==Network==
 +
{{Network/Multiplayer
 +
|local play          = true
 +
|local play players  = 2
 +
|local play modes    = Co-op, Versus
 +
|local play notes    =
 +
|lan play            = false
 +
|lan play players    =
 +
|lan play modes      =
 +
|lan play notes      =
 +
|online play          = false
 +
|online play players  =
 +
|online play modes    =
 +
|online play notes    =
 +
|asynchronous        = false
 +
|asynchronous notes  =
 +
}}
 +
 +
==Issues fixed==
 +
===Unable to install on 64-bit systems===
 +
{{ii}} Both installers on the game CD are 16-bit.
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Use winevdm|ref=<ref name="Mystyle">{{Refcheck|user=Mystyle48|date=2023-06-25}}</ref>|fix=
 +
# Download and install the [https://github.com/otya128/winevdm/releases/latest latest release].
 +
# On the game CD, run {{File|AUTORUN.EXE}} or {{File|INSTALL95\SETUP32.EXE}} and install the game normally.
 +
}}
 +
 +
{{Fixbox|collapsed=yes|description=Copy over required files from the CD|ref=<ref name="SonicRetro">{{Refurl|url=https://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?posts/973063/|title=Let's Get Old Sega PC Games to Work Again - Sonic and Sega Retro Forums|date=2023-03-18}}</ref><ref name="speedrun">{{Refurl|url=https://www.speedrun.com/sonics_schoolhouse/guide/mft5z|title=Win10 x64 Instructions - Guides - Sonic's Schoolhouse - speedrun.com|date=2022-12-23}}</ref>|fix=
 +
# Copy {{File|DRIVERS\WING\WING32.DLL}} to {{Folder|{{P|windir}}\SysWOW64}}.
 +
# Copy {{File|SONIC\SONICSH.INI}} to {{Folder|{{P|windir}}}}.
 +
 +
'''Note'''
 +
{{ii}} The {{Folder|SONIC}} folder contains all game contents, allowing the game to be run directly from the CD or copied to any other location.
 +
}}
 +
 +
===Game window does not scale to screen===
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Enable the <code>Run in 640x480 screen resolution</code> [[Windows Compatibility Mode|compatibility setting]] for {{File|{{P|Game}}\SONIC.EXE}}|ref=<ref name="Mystyle"/>
 +
}}
 +
 +
==="Unable to initialize sound system"===
 +
{{ii}} Results in missing in-game music/sounds.
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Set the compatibility mode of {{File|{{P|Game}}\SONIC.EXE}} to <code>Windows 95</code> or <code>Windows 98 / Windows Me</code>|ref=<ref name="Mystyle"/>|fix=
 +
{{ii}} These [[Windows Compatibility Mode|compatibility modes]] include the <code>CorrectSoundDeviceId</code> compatibility fix, which resolves the error.
 +
}}
 +
 +
{{Fixbox|collapsed=yes|description=Apply the <code>CorrectSoundDeviceId</code> compatibility fix to {{File|{{P|Game}}\SONIC.EXE}} in Compatibility Administrator|ref=<ref name="Mystyle"/>|fix=
 +
# Download the [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-install#other-adk-downloads Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK)].
 +
# Run the ADK setup. On the feature selection screen of the setup, toggle the '''Application Compatibility Tools''' option before beginning the installation.
 +
# After the ADK is installed, download [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/2607-sonics-schoolhouse-correctsounddeviceid-compatibility-fix/ this compatibility database] and open it in the 32-bit version of '''Compatibility Administrator'''.
 +
# Right-click on the database and click '''Install''' on the drop-down menu.
 +
}}
 +
 +
==="ERROR: Specified System Has Not Been Initialized"===
 +
{{ii}} Often occurs after resolving [[#"Unable to initialize sound system"|"Unable to initialize sound system"]].
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Use CoolSoft MIDIMapper|ref=<ref name="speedrun"/><ref name="dxwnd">{{Refurl|url=https://sourceforge.net/p/dxwnd/discussion/general/thread/87b7516fa6/|title=DxWnd / Discussion / General Discussion: Sonic's Schoolhouse|date=2022-12-23}}</ref>|fix=
 +
# Download and install [https://coolsoft.altervista.org/en/midimapper#download CoolSoft MIDIMapper].
 +
# Run the configuration program and select a default MIDI device.
 +
}}
 +
 +
==="Video not available, cannot find 'vids:IV32' decompressor"===
 +
{{ii}} Occurs upon entering the field trip school bus.
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Enable the Indeo Video 3.2 codec for Windows|ref=<ref name="speedrun"/>|fix=
 +
# Download the [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/2493-indeo-codec-restoration-patch-for-windows-10/ Indeo codec restoration patch] for '''iv32'''.
 +
# Run the {{File|.reg}} file.
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 175: Line 273:
 
|directdraw versions    =  
 
|directdraw versions    =  
 
|directdraw notes      =  
 
|directdraw notes      =  
|wing                  =  
+
|wing                  = true
 
|wing notes            =  
 
|wing notes            =  
 
|opengl versions        =  
 
|opengl versions        =  
Line 193: Line 291:
 
|shader model versions  =  
 
|shader model versions  =  
 
|shader model notes    =  
 
|shader model notes    =  
|windows 32-bit exe    = false
+
|windows 32-bit exe    = true
 
|windows 64-bit exe    = false
 
|windows 64-bit exe    = false
|windows exe notes      =  
+
|windows arm app        = unknown
 +
|windows exe notes      = <ref>{{Refcheck|user=Mystyle48|date=2023-11-25}}</ref>
 
|mac os x powerpc app  =  
 
|mac os x powerpc app  =  
 
|macos intel 32-bit app = unknown
 
|macos intel 32-bit app = unknown
 
|macos intel 64-bit app = unknown
 
|macos intel 64-bit app = unknown
 +
|macos arm app          = unknown
 
|macos app notes        =  
 
|macos app notes        =  
 
|linux 32-bit executable= unknown
 
|linux 32-bit executable= unknown
 
|linux 64-bit executable= unknown
 
|linux 64-bit executable= unknown
 +
|linux arm app          = unknown
 
|linux executable notes =  
 
|linux executable notes =  
 
}}
 
}}
Line 209: Line 310:
 
|physics          =  
 
|physics          =  
 
|physics notes    =  
 
|physics notes    =  
|audio            =  
+
|audio            = Human Machine Interface (HMI) audio drivers
 
|audio notes      =  
 
|audio notes      =  
 
|interface        =  
 
|interface        =  
Line 219: Line 320:
 
|multiplayer      =  
 
|multiplayer      =  
 
|multiplayer notes=  
 
|multiplayer notes=  
|anticheat        =  
+
}}
|anticheat notes  =
+
 
 +
===Run without the CD===
 +
{{ii}} By default, the installer copies minimal game assets to the system. The rest are fetched from the CD using paths defined in the [[#Configuration file(s) location|configuration file]].
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Copy over assets from the CD|ref=<ref name="Mystyle"/>|fix=
 +
# Open {{Folder|SONIC}} on the CD.
 +
# Copy {{Folder|ART}}, {{Folder|AVI}}, {{Folder|MAP}}, {{Folder|MIDI}}, {{Folder|TEX}}, and {{Folder|WAV}} to {{Folder|{{P|game}}}}</code>.
 +
# Copy {{File|SONICSH.INI}} to {{Folder|{{P|windir}}}}.
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 228: Line 335:
  
 
|minOS    = 3.1, 95
 
|minOS    = 3.1, 95
|minCPU  = 66 MHz Intel i486 DX2
+
|minCPU  = Intel i486DX2 66 MHz
 
|minRAM  = 8 MB
 
|minRAM  = 8 MB
|minHD    = 3 MB
+
|minHD    = 2 MB
|minGPU  = SVGA, 256 colors
+
|minGPU  = SVGA
 +
|minaudio = Sound Blaster 16 or compatible
 +
|minother = 2x CD-ROM drive
  
 
|recOS    =  
 
|recOS    =  
|recCPU  = 75 MHz Intel Pentium
+
|recCPU  = Intel Pentium 60 MHz
 
|recRAM  =  
 
|recRAM  =  
 
|recHD    =  
 
|recHD    =  
 
|recGPU  =  
 
|recGPU  =  
|notes    =  
+
|recother = 4x CD-ROM drive
 +
|ref      = <ref>{{Refurl|url=https://archive.org/details/sonicschoolhousemanual/page/n3/mode/2up|title=Sonic's Schoolhouse manual|date=2023-06-08}}</ref>
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
{{References}}
 
{{References}}

Latest revision as of 17:45, 24 February 2024

Sonic's Schoolhouse
Sonic's Schoolhouse cover
Developers
BAP Interactive
Orion Interactive
Publishers
Sega Entertainment
Re-release Expert Software
Engines
I3D[Note 1]
Release dates
Windows October 18, 1996[2]
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase
Modes Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives First-person
Controls Direct control, Point and select
Genres Educational
Art styles Cartoon, Pre-rendered graphics
Series Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic's Schoolhouse on HowLongToBeat
Sonic's Schoolhouse on IGDB
Sonic's Schoolhouse on MobyGames
Sonic's Schoolhouse on Wikipedia
Sonic the Hedgehog fangames (series)
Sonic CD 1995
Sonic's Schoolhouse 1996
Sonic 3D Blast (series)
Sonic & Knuckles Collection 1997
Sonic R (series)
Sonic Adventure (series)
Sonic Heroes 2004
Sonic Mega Collection Plus 2006
Sonic Riders 2006
Sonic Racing (series)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2010
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine 2010
Sonic Spinball 2010
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 2011
Sonic 3 & Knuckles 2011
Sonic Generations 2011
Sonic CD (2012) 2012
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I 2012
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II 2012
Sonic Dash 2014
Sonic Lost World 2015
Sonic Mania 2017
Sonic Forces 2017
Sonic the Hedgehog (Mobile Decompilation) 2021
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Mobile Decompilation) 2021
Sonic Colors: Ultimate 2021
Sonic Origins 2022
Sonic Frontiers 2022
The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog 2023
Sonic Superstars 2023
Sonic Dream Team 2023
Sonic X Shadow Generations 2024

Sonic's Schoolhouse is a singleplayer and multiplayer first-person educational game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series developed by BAP Interactive and Orion Interactive and published by Sega Entertainment.

The game was released for Windows on October 18, 1996.[2]

Sonic's Schoolhouse suffers from various compatibility issues on modern systems. Most issues can be resolved with compatibility settings and third-party programs.

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
See Run without the CD.
Windows

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows %WINDIR%\SONICSH.INI[Note 2]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows %WINDIR%\SONICSH.INI[Note 2]

Video

Graphics feature State Notes
Widescreen resolution
640x480 only.
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Prone to multiple graphical issues, such as disappearing/black UI elements and incorrect window scaling.[3]
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anti-aliasing (AA)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
High-fidelity upscaling
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Vertical sync (Vsync)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
60 FPS and 120+ FPS
High dynamic range display (HDR)

Input

Audio

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
On/off toggle for music only.
Surround sound
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Royalty free audio
General MIDI audio

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English

Network

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
Local play
2 Co-op, Versus
LAN play
Online play
Asynchronous multiplayer

Issues fixed

Unable to install on 64-bit systems

Both installers on the game CD are 16-bit.
Use winevdm[4]
  1. Download and install the latest release.
  2. On the game CD, run AUTORUN.EXE or INSTALL95\SETUP32.EXE and install the game normally.
Copy over required files from the CD[5][6]
  1. Copy DRIVERS\WING\WING32.DLL to %WINDIR%\SysWOW64.
  2. Copy SONIC\SONICSH.INI to %WINDIR%.

Note

The SONIC folder contains all game contents, allowing the game to be run directly from the CD or copied to any other location.

Game window does not scale to screen

Enable the Run in 640x480 screen resolution compatibility setting for <path-to-game>\SONIC.EXE[4]

"Unable to initialize sound system"

Results in missing in-game music/sounds.
Set the compatibility mode of <path-to-game>\SONIC.EXE to Windows 95 or Windows 98 / Windows Me[4]
These compatibility modes include the CorrectSoundDeviceId compatibility fix, which resolves the error.
Apply the CorrectSoundDeviceId compatibility fix to <path-to-game>\SONIC.EXE in Compatibility Administrator[4]
  1. Download the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK).
  2. Run the ADK setup. On the feature selection screen of the setup, toggle the Application Compatibility Tools option before beginning the installation.
  3. After the ADK is installed, download this compatibility database and open it in the 32-bit version of Compatibility Administrator.
  4. Right-click on the database and click Install on the drop-down menu.

"ERROR: Specified System Has Not Been Initialized"

Often occurs after resolving "Unable to initialize sound system".
Use CoolSoft MIDIMapper[6][7]
  1. Download and install CoolSoft MIDIMapper.
  2. Run the configuration program and select a default MIDI device.

"Video not available, cannot find 'vids:IV32' decompressor"

Occurs upon entering the field trip school bus.
Enable the Indeo Video 3.2 codec for Windows[6]
  1. Download the Indeo codec restoration patch for iv32.
  2. Run the .reg file.

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
WinG
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows
[8]

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Audio Human Machine Interface (HMI) audio drivers

Run without the CD

By default, the installer copies minimal game assets to the system. The rest are fetched from the CD using paths defined in the configuration file.
Copy over assets from the CD[4]
  1. Open SONIC on the CD.
  2. Copy ART, AVI, MAP, MIDI, TEX, and WAV to <path-to-game>.
  3. Copy SONICSH.INI to %WINDIR%.

System requirements

Windows[9]
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 3.1, 95
Processor (CPU) Intel i486DX2 66 MHz
System memory (RAM) 8 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 2 MB
Video card (GPU) SVGA
Sound (audio device) Sound Blaster 16 or compatible
Other 2x CD-ROM drive


Notes

  1. I3D engine build: 2.1[1]
  2. 2.0 2.1 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. Verified by User:Mystyle48 on 2023-10-06
    Opening SONIC.EXE in ImHex and going to address 0x0002C480 reveals the following text: "I3D Tool Kit 2.1 (c)1993-94 Jim O'Keane"
  2. 2.0 2.1 SEGA ENTERTAINMENT, ORION INTERACTIVE BRING FUN AND GAMES TO PC LEARNING SOFTWARE (retrieved) - last accessed on 2023-05-18
    "The title will be available, for children ages five to nine, nationwide on October 18 for a suggested retail price of $34.99."
  3. Verified by User:Mystyle48 on 2023-11-11
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Verified by User:Mystyle48 on 2023-06-25
  5. Let's Get Old Sega PC Games to Work Again - Sonic and Sega Retro Forums - last accessed on 2023-03-18
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Win10 x64 Instructions - Guides - Sonic's Schoolhouse - speedrun.com - last accessed on 2022-12-23
  7. DxWnd / Discussion / General Discussion: Sonic's Schoolhouse - last accessed on 2022-12-23
  8. Verified by User:Mystyle48 on 2023-11-25
  9. Sonic's Schoolhouse manual - last accessed on 2023-06-08