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Difference between revisions of "Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Line 59: Line 59:
 
===Configuration file(s) location===
 
===Configuration file(s) location===
 
{{Game data|
 
{{Game data|
−
{{Game data/config|Windows|{{p|game}}\}}
+
{{Game data/config|Windows|{{p|game}}\autoexec.cfg|{{p|game}}\default.cfg|{{p|game}}\server.cfg|{{p|game}}\server_bighead.cfg}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
===Save game data location===
 
===Save game data location===
 
{{Game data|
 
{{Game data|
−
{{Game data/saves|Windows|{{p|game}}\Save\}}
+
{{Game data/saves|Windows|{{p|game}}\save\}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 100: Line 100:
 
|60 fps notes              =  
 
|60 fps notes              =  
 
|120 fps                    = false
 
|120 fps                    = false
−
|120 fps notes              = Game logic is tied to frame rate. At over 60 fps, mouse is jerky and cutscenes are too fast cutting off characters' voice lines. At extremely high frame rates, game runs inhumanly fast.Set The monitor refresh rate on 60hz to fix
+
|120 fps notes              = Game logic is tied to frame rate. At over 60 fps, mouse is jerky and cutscenes are too fast cutting off characters' voice lines. At extremely high frame rates, game runs inhumanly fast. Set the monitor refresh rate on 60 Hz to fix it.<ref name="AlphaYellow_05022024"/>
 
|hdr                        = false
 
|hdr                        = false
 
|hdr notes                  =  
 
|hdr notes                  =  
Line 108: Line 108:
  
 
===[[Glossary:Widescreen resolution|Widescreen resolution]]===
 
===[[Glossary:Widescreen resolution|Widescreen resolution]]===
−
{{Fixbox|description=Edit {{file|autoexec.cfg}} and {{file|{{p|uid}}.cfg}}|ref=<ref>{{Refcheck|user=AlphaYellow|date=2024-02-04}}</ref>|fix=
+
{{Fixbox|description=Edit {{file|autoexec.cfg}} and {{file|{{p|uid}}.cfg}}|ref=<ref name="AlphaYellow_05022024">{{Refcheck|user=AlphaYellow|date=2024-02-05}}</ref>|fix=
 
# Open {{file|{{p|game}}/autoexec.cfg}} and {{file|{{p|game}}/profiles/{{p|uid}}.cfg}}.
 
# Open {{file|{{p|game}}/autoexec.cfg}} and {{file|{{p|game}}/profiles/{{p|uid}}.cfg}}.
 
# Change the lines <code>"ScreenHeight"</code> and <code>"ScreenWidth"</code> to the desired ones.
 
# Change the lines <code>"ScreenHeight"</code> and <code>"ScreenWidth"</code> to the desired ones.
Line 149: Line 149:
 
|invert mouse y-axis      = true
 
|invert mouse y-axis      = true
 
|invert mouse y-axis notes =  
 
|invert mouse y-axis notes =  
−
|touchscreen              = unknown
+
|touchscreen              = false
 
|touchscreen notes        =  
 
|touchscreen notes        =  
 
|controller support        = true
 
|controller support        = true
Line 207: Line 207:
 
|surround sound          = unknown
 
|surround sound          = unknown
 
|surround sound notes    =  
 
|surround sound notes    =  
−
|subtitles                = unknown
+
|subtitles                = true
 
|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      = true
 
|mute on focus lost notes =  
 
|mute on focus lost notes =  
 
|eax support              = true
 
|eax support              = true
−
|eax support notes        = A3D 1.0, EAX 1
+
|eax support notes        = A3D 1.0, EAX 1.
 
|royalty free audio        = unknown
 
|royalty free audio        = unknown
 
|royalty free audio notes  =  
 
|royalty free audio notes  =  
Line 273: Line 273:
  
 
==Issues fixed==
 
==Issues fixed==
−
{{Fixbox|description=Weird colors on startup videos and menus|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1232008#p1232008|title=KISS: Psycho Circus - The Nightmare Child (2000) \ VOGONS|date=2024-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1232015#p1232015|title=KISS: Psycho Circus - The Nightmare Child (2000) \ VOGONS|date=2024-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{Refcheck|user=AlphaYellow|date=2024-02-05}}</ref>|fix=
+
{{Fixbox|description=Weird colors on startup videos and menus|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1232008#p1232008|title=KISS: Psycho Circus - The Nightmare Child (2000) \ VOGONS|date=2024-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1232015#p1232015|title=KISS: Psycho Circus - The Nightmare Child (2000) \ VOGONS|date=2024-02-05}}</ref><ref name="AlphaYellow_05022024"/>|fix=
 
# Install the [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-install#download-the-adk-101253981-september-2023 Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit].
 
# Install the [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-install#download-the-adk-101253981-september-2023 Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit].
 
# During the installation, in the '''Select features you want to install''' section, tick the box '''Application Compatibility Tools''' (Untick all the other boxes, they aren't needed for this fix).
 
# During the installation, in the '''Select features you want to install''' section, tick the box '''Application Compatibility Tools''' (Untick all the other boxes, they aren't needed for this fix).
Line 281: Line 281:
  
 
'''Notes'''
 
'''Notes'''
−
{{++}} This method works with dgVoodoo2, so the widescreen fixes aren't needed.
+
{{++}} This method works with [[dgVoodoo 2]], so the widescreen fixes aren't needed.
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
===Mouse movement jumping pixels/stuttering===
 
===Mouse movement jumping pixels/stuttering===
−
{{Fixbox|description=Use dinputto8|fix=
+
{{Fixbox|description=Use dinputto8|ref=<ref name="AlphaYellow_05022024"/>|fix=
−
# Download and extract [https://github.com/elishacloud/dinputto8/releases/latest/download/dinput.zip dinput.dll] to the main game folder.
+
# Download and extract [https://github.com/elishacloud/dinputto8/releases/latest/download/dinput.zip dinput.dll] to {{folder|{{p|game}}}}.
−
# Go ingame, open the mouse options in "Setup", and set <code>Mouse Input Rate</code> to the maximum and lower <code>Mouse Sensitivity</code> until the jittering is gone.
+
# Go ingame, open the mouse options in '''Setup''', and set <code>Mouse Input Rate</code> to the maximum and lower <code>Mouse Sensitivity</code> until the jittering is gone.
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
===Can't reinstall the game after the above error===
 
===Can't reinstall the game after the above error===
 
{{Fixbox|description=Delete the corrupted files|ref=<ref>[https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install-winpc/error-extracting-support-files-catastrophic/2faea46b-96ed-4b05-8f56-f49089fd1539 Microsoft Support | Catastrophic failure solution]</ref>|fix=
 
{{Fixbox|description=Delete the corrupted files|ref=<ref>[https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install-winpc/error-extracting-support-files-catastrophic/2faea46b-96ed-4b05-8f56-f49089fd1539 Microsoft Support | Catastrophic failure solution]</ref>|fix=
−
# Enable hidden folders to show up on Windows Explorer;
+
# Enable hidden folders to show up on Windows Explorer.
−
# Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\InstallShield Installation Information\  
+
# Go to {{folder|C:\Program Files (x86)\InstallShield Installation Information\}}.
 
# Delete the folder with the setup's GUID of the game.
 
# Delete the folder with the setup's GUID of the game.
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
===High FPS Issues===
 
===High FPS Issues===
−
{{Fixbox|description=Limit the Framerate to 60FPS |ref={{cn|date=September 2021}}|fix=
+
{{Fixbox|description=Limit the Framerate to 60 FPS|ref=<ref name="AlphaYellow_05022024"/>|fix=
 
* See [[Glossary:Frame rate (FPS)#Frame rate capping|Frame rate capping]].
 
* See [[Glossary:Frame rate (FPS)#Frame rate capping|Frame rate capping]].
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{Fixbox|description=Set refresh rate on 60hz|ref={{cn|date=September 2021}}|fix=
+
 
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Set refresh rate on 60 Hz|ref=<ref name="AlphaYellow_05022024"/>|fix=
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
===Game crashes on startup===
 
===Game crashes on startup===
 
{{Fixbox|description=Use custom DLL|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.moddb.com/mods/kiss-psycho-circus-the-nightmare-child-windows-10-patch/downloads/kiss-psycho-circus-the-nightmare-child-windows-10-patch|title=Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child (Windows 10 Patch) file - Mod DB|date=May 2023}}</ref>|fix=
 
{{Fixbox|description=Use custom DLL|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.moddb.com/mods/kiss-psycho-circus-the-nightmare-child-windows-10-patch/downloads/kiss-psycho-circus-the-nightmare-child-windows-10-patch|title=Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child (Windows 10 Patch) file - Mod DB|date=May 2023}}</ref>|fix=
−
# Download [https://github.com/elishacloud/dxwrapper/issues/30 dinput.dll] and place it in the game folder.
+
# Download [https://github.com/elishacloud/dxwrapper/issues/30 dinput.dll] and place it in {{folder|{{p|game}}}}.
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 336: Line 337:
 
|windows 32-bit exe    = true
 
|windows 32-bit exe    = true
 
|windows 64-bit exe    = false
 
|windows 64-bit exe    = false
−
|windows arm app        = unknown
+
|windows arm app        =  
 
|windows exe notes      =  
 
|windows exe notes      =  
 
|mac os x powerpc app  =  
 
|mac os x powerpc app  =  
−
|macos intel 32-bit app = unknown
+
|macos intel 32-bit app =  
−
|macos intel 64-bit app = unknown
+
|macos intel 64-bit app =  
−
|macos arm app          = unknown
+
|macos arm app          =  
 
|macos app notes        =  
 
|macos app notes        =  
 
|linux powerpc app      =  
 
|linux powerpc app      =  
−
|linux 32-bit executable= unknown
+
|linux 32-bit executable=  
−
|linux 64-bit executable= unknown
+
|linux 64-bit executable=  
−
|linux arm app          = unknown
+
|linux arm app          =  
 
|linux executable notes =  
 
|linux executable notes =  
 
}}
 
}}

Revision as of 13:05, 5 February 2024

Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child
Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child cover
Developers
Third Law Interactive
Publishers
Gathering of Developers
Engines
LithTech 1.5
Release dates
Windows July 14, 2000
Reception
Metacritic 71
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase
Modes Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives First-person
Controls Direct control
Genres Action, FPS, Shooter
Art styles Realistic
Themes Fantasy, Horror
Series Kiss
Icon overlay.png
Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child on HowLongToBeat
Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child on IGDB
Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child guide on StrategyWiki
Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child on MobyGames
Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child on Wikipedia
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Kiss
Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child 2000
Kiss Pinball 2000

Warnings

GameSpy online services have been shut down (see Network for solutions).

Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child is a singleplayer and multiplayer first-person action, FPS and shooter game in the Kiss series.

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
Windows

Essential improvements

Run Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child on modern systems

Use Felizpe's patch[1]
  • FIxes "rainbow colors" on intro videos and menus.
  • Forced resolution allows high resolution without shrinking the HUD.
  • Allows for bigger resolutions and widescreen support.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\autoexec.cfg[Note 1]
<path-to-game>\default.cfg[Note 1]
<path-to-game>\server.cfg[Note 1]
<path-to-game>\server_bighead.cfg[Note 1]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\save\[Note 1]

Video

Graphics feature State WSGF Notes
Widescreen resolution
 
 See Widescreen resolution.
Multi-monitor
 
 See Widescreen resolution.
Ultra-widescreen
 
 See Widescreen resolution.
4K Ultra HD
 
 See Widescreen resolution.
Field of view (FOV)
The FOV slider in the game options under Interface is not truly Hor+, as it only handles horizontal FOV, the vertical FOV is still cut off at wider resolutions than 4:3, squishing the image. Instead, follow the Instructions for other aspect ratios section of the FOV Fix to change the FOV.
Windowed
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Borderless fullscreen windowed
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
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
120+ FPS
Game logic is tied to frame rate. At over 60 fps, mouse is jerky and cutscenes are too fast cutting off characters' voice lines. At extremely high frame rates, game runs inhumanly fast. Set the monitor refresh rate on 60 Hz to fix it.[2]
High dynamic range display (HDR)

Widescreen resolution

Edit autoexec.cfg and <user-id>.cfg[2]
  1. Open <path-to-game>/autoexec.cfg and <path-to-game>/profiles/<user-id>.cfg.
  2. Change the lines "ScreenHeight" and "ScreenWidth" to the desired ones.

Notes

Vert-: FOV is cropped on wider resolutions than 4:3. Use the FOV Fix to fix it.
Run the game in widescreen resolutions[3]
  1. Download Kiss - Widescreen Fix.
  2. Extract to the installation folder and overwrite if asked to.
  3. Run KISS: Psycho Circus launcher and either change the resolution inside the launcher, or inside the game.

Notes

The FMVs are rendered only in 8bit color and the Cutscenes higher than 16:9 have many gliches.
HUD is rendered too small at higher resolutions.

or:

Use Felizpe's patch[4]
  1. Download the fix on ModDB page.
  2. Install the fix following the instructions on the screen.
  3. Run KISS: Psycho Circus launcher and either change the resolution inside the launcher, or inside the game.

Notes

This fix only works when the game is installed on the main C: drive.

Input

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Full controller support
Controller remapping
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion
Controller types
XInput-compatible controllers
PlayStation controllers
Generic/other controllers
Additional information
Controller hotplugging
Haptic feedback
Digital movement supported
Simultaneous controller+KB/M

Audio

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
EAX support
A3D 1.0, EAX 1.
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English

Network

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
Local play
LAN play
16
Online play
GameSpy services have been shut down;[5] see GameSpy for workarounds.

Issues unresolved

Can't uninstall the game on Windows 10

If the game is installed in any other drive besides the main one, the uninstall information gets corrupted and it can't be uninstalled from inside the Control Panel, returning a "catastrophic failure" error message.
Set the compatibility mode to Windows 98/Windows ME for the Setup.exe file located on the game's CD-ROM then install the game. The uninstaller will work fine after from the Control Panel - Programs and Features.

Issues fixed

Weird colors on startup videos and menus[6][7][2]
  1. Install the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit.
  2. During the installation, in the Select features you want to install section, tick the box Application Compatibility Tools (Untick all the other boxes, they aren't needed for this fix).
  3. After installing, go to Windows search and search for Compatibility Administrator (32-bit).
  4. After opening it, go to System Database (32-bit)>Applications>KISS Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child.
  5. Right click the first client.exe and click in Disable Entry.

Notes

This method works with dgVoodoo 2, so the widescreen fixes aren't needed.

Mouse movement jumping pixels/stuttering

Use dinputto8[2]
  1. Download and extract dinput.dll to <path-to-game>.
  2. Go ingame, open the mouse options in Setup, and set Mouse Input Rate to the maximum and lower Mouse Sensitivity until the jittering is gone.

Can't reinstall the game after the above error

Delete the corrupted files[8]
  1. Enable hidden folders to show up on Windows Explorer.
  2. Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\InstallShield Installation Information\.
  3. Delete the folder with the setup's GUID of the game.

High FPS Issues

Limit the Framerate to 60 FPS[2]
Set refresh rate on 60 Hz[2]

Game crashes on startup

Use custom DLL[9]
  1. Download dinput.dll and place it in <path-to-game>.

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 7
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Audio Miles Sound System 5.0d
5.0f version 1.1
Cutscenes Smacker Video Technology 4.0d

System requirements

Windows
Minimum
Operating system (OS)
Processor (CPU) Intel Pentium II 266 MHz
System memory (RAM) 64 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD)
Video card (GPU) DirectX 8.0 compatible


Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 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