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Difference between revisions of "Alex Builds His Farm"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
(Uses OpenSpace)
 
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−
{{stub}}
 
 
{{Infobox game
 
{{Infobox game
 
|cover        = Alex Builds His Farm cover.jpg
 
|cover        = Alex Builds His Farm cover.jpg
 
|developers  =  
 
|developers  =  
−
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Playmobil Interactive}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Ubisoft Montreal}}
 
|publishers  =  
 
|publishers  =  
−
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Ubisoft}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Playmobil Interactive}}
 
|engines      =  
 
|engines      =  
 
{{Infobox game/row/engine|Ubisoft OpenSpace}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/engine|Ubisoft OpenSpace}}
 
|release dates=  
 
|release dates=  
−
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|1999}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|July 15, 1999}}
 +
|taxonomy    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization      | One-time game purchase }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes            | Singleplayer }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing            | Real-time }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives      | Third-person }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls          | Direct control }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres            | Adventure, Building, Educational, Farming, Simulation }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles          | Industrial }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles        | Stylized }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series            | Playmobil }}
 
|steam appid  =  
 
|steam appid  =  
 
|steam appid side  =  
 
|steam appid side  =  
−
|gogcom page  =  
+
|gogcom id    =  
 
|strategywiki =  
 
|strategywiki =  
 +
|igdb        = alex-builds-his-farm
 +
|mobygames    = alex-builds-his-farm
 
|wikipedia    =  
 
|wikipedia    =  
 
|winehq      =  
 
|winehq      =  
 
|license      = commercial
 
|license      = commercial
 +
}}
 +
 +
{{Introduction
 +
|introduction      =
 +
 +
|release history  =
 +
 +
|current state    =
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
==Availability==
 
==Availability==
 
{{Availability|
 
{{Availability|
−
{{Availability/row| Retail | | unknown | | | Windows }}
+
{{Availability/row| Retail | | disc | {{DRM|SafeDisc|2}} with unreadable errors | | 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}}\UbiSoft\ubi.ini}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
===Save game data location===
 
===Save game data location===
 
{{Game data|
 
{{Game data|
−
{{Game data/saves|Windows|}}
+
{{Game data/saves|Windows|{{p|game}}\Gamedata\SaveGame}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==Video settings==
+
==Video==
−
{{Video settings
+
{{Image|Alex Builds His Farm - Configuration Tool.png|Ubisoft Configuration Tool.}}
 +
{{Video
 
|wsgf link                  =  
 
|wsgf link                  =  
 
|widescreen wsgf award      =  
 
|widescreen wsgf award      =  
Line 42: Line 63:
 
|ultrawidescreen wsgf award =  
 
|ultrawidescreen wsgf award =  
 
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    =  
 
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    =  
−
|widescreen resolution      = unknown
+
|widescreen resolution      = hackable
−
|widescreen resolution notes=  
+
|widescreen resolution notes= See [[#Widescreen resolution|Widescreen resolution]].
−
|multimonitor              = unknown
+
|multimonitor              = hackable
−
|multimonitor notes        =  
+
|multimonitor notes        = See [[#Widescreen resolution|Widescreen resolution]].
−
|ultrawidescreen            = unknown
+
|ultrawidescreen            = hackable
−
|ultrawidescreen notes      =  
+
|ultrawidescreen notes      = See [[#Widescreen resolution|Widescreen resolution]].
−
|4k ultra hd                = unknown
+
|4k ultra hd                = hackable
−
|4k ultra hd notes          =  
+
|4k ultra hd notes          = See [[#Widescreen resolution|Widescreen resolution]].
−
|fov                        = unknown
+
|fov                        = hackable
−
|fov notes                  =  
+
|fov notes                  = See [[#Field of view (FOV)|Field of view (FOV)]].
−
|windowed                  = unknown
+
|windowed                  = hackable
−
|windowed notes            =  
+
|windowed notes            = The game can be forced to run in Windowed mode, when using [http://dege.freeweb.hu/ dgVoodoo2].
−
|borderless windowed        = unknown
+
|borderless windowed        = false
 
|borderless windowed notes  =  
 
|borderless windowed notes  =  
−
|anisotropic                = unknown
+
|anisotropic                = false
 
|anisotropic notes          =  
 
|anisotropic notes          =  
−
|antialiasing              = unknown
+
|antialiasing              = false
 
|antialiasing notes        =  
 
|antialiasing notes        =  
−
|vsync                      = unknown
+
|upscaling                  =
−
|vsync notes                =  
+
|upscaling tech            =
−
|60 fps                    = unknown
+
|upscaling notes            =
−
|60 fps notes              =  
+
|vsync                      = always on
−
|120 fps                    = unknown
+
|vsync notes                = Always on in Direct3D. In Glide, use nGlide and set in {{file|nglide_config.exe}}, or use [http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/dgVoodoo2/ dgVoodoo2].
 +
|60 fps                    = true
 +
|60 fps notes              = Frame rate is capped at 63 FPS in Glide. Animations are locked at 30 FPS by default, but their framerate can be increased by turning on "Use Animation Interpolation" inside Advanced Video Settings in {{file|{{p|game}}\UbiAssistant.exe}}.
 +
|120 fps                    = false
 
|120 fps notes              =  
 
|120 fps notes              =  
−
|hdr                        = unknown
+
|hdr                        = false
 
|hdr notes                  =  
 
|hdr notes                  =  
−
|color blind                = unknown
+
|color blind                = false
 
|color blind notes          =  
 
|color blind notes          =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==Input settings==
+
===[[Glossary:Widescreen resolution|Widescreen resolution]]===
−
{{Input settings
+
{{ii}} Game needs to have been run in admin mode before in order for it to write its settings to ubi.ini, which is in C: drive.
−
|key remap                = unknown
+
{{Fixbox|description=Change resolution|ref=<ref>{{Refcheck|user=AlphaYellow|date=2022-11-19|comment=According to SuicideMachine's findings, the game's exe makes reference of the variable "ScreenSize", which can be altered in the config file and successfully changes the resolution if the game is run in admin mode.}}</ref>|fix=
 +
# Open [[#Game data|{{file|ubi.ini}}]].
 +
# Under the section <code>[Alex Builds His Farm]</code>, add the line <code>ScreenSize</code>.
 +
# Insert your preferred resolution (for example, <code>ScreenSize=1920x1080</code>).
 +
 
 +
'''Notes'''
 +
{{ii}} dgVoodoo2 is needed for resolutions higher than 2048x2048 to work.
 +
{{--}} HUD is stretched.
 +
{{--}} Lower vertical FOV in wider aspect ratios. Increase FOV to compensate, see [[Field of view (FOV)|Field of view (FOV)]].
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===[[Glossary:Field of view (FOV)|Field of view (FOV)]]===
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Change Field of View|ref=<ref>{{Refcheck|user=AlphaYellow|date=2022-11-19|comment=Tested with several different FOVs and works.}}</ref>|fix=
 +
# Open {{file|Alex_D3D.exe}} or {{file|Alex_DFX.exe}} with a hex editor such as [https://mh-nexus.de/en/downloads.php?product=HxD HxD].
 +
# Press {{key|Ctrl|R}} and set '''Datatype''' to '''Hex-values'''.
 +
# Search for {{code|0000003F 0000803F}}.
 +
# If using {{file|Alex_D3D.exe}}, search for the third match of it. For {{file|Alex_DFX.exe}}, search for the fourth match instead. Replace the {{code|0000803F}} part with:
 +
#* {{code|8888883F}} for 5:4 screens
 +
#* {{code|0E745A3F}} for 25:16 screens
 +
#* {{code|5555553F}} for 16:10 screens
 +
#* {{code|0000503F}} for 15:9 screens
 +
#* {{code|0000403F}} for 16:9 screens
 +
#* {{code|0000103F}} for 21:9 screens
 +
 
 +
'''Notes'''
 +
{{--}} Objects keep appearing and disappearing outside the 4:3 area, which is very distracting.
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Input==
 +
{{Input
 +
|key remap                = false
 
|key remap notes          =  
 
|key remap notes          =  
−
|acceleration option      = unknown
+
|acceleration option      = n/a
−
|acceleration option notes =  
+
|acceleration option notes = Mouse isn't supported in-game.
−
|mouse sensitivity        = unknown
+
|mouse sensitivity        = n/a
 
|mouse sensitivity notes  =  
 
|mouse sensitivity notes  =  
−
|mouse menu                = unknown
+
|mouse menu                = false
 
|mouse menu notes          =  
 
|mouse menu notes          =  
−
|invert mouse y-axis      = unknown
+
|invert mouse y-axis      = n/a
 
|invert mouse y-axis notes =  
 
|invert mouse y-axis notes =  
−
|touchscreen              = unknown
+
|touchscreen              = false
 
|touchscreen notes        =  
 
|touchscreen notes        =  
 
|controller support        = unknown
 
|controller support        = unknown
Line 136: Line 190:
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==Audio settings==
+
==Audio==
−
{{Audio settings
+
{{Image|Alex Builds His Farm - Sound Settings.png|Sound Settings.}}
−
|separate volume          = unknown
+
{{Audio
−
|separate volume notes    =  
+
|separate volume          = true
 +
|separate volume notes    = Voices, Sound Effects and Music.
 
|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      = true
 
|mute on focus lost notes =  
 
|mute on focus lost notes =  
 
|eax support              =  
 
|eax support              =  
−
|eax support notes        =  
+
|eax support notes         =
 +
|royalty free audio       = true
 +
|royalty free audio notes  =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 155: Line 212:
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
 
  |language  = English
 
  |language  = English
−
  |interface = yes
+
  |interface = true
−
  |audio    = unknown
+
  |audio    = true
−
  |subtitles = unknown
+
  |subtitles = n/a
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |fan      =  
 
  |fan      =  
−
|fan notes =
 
 
}}
 
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Italian
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    = Alex e la sua fattoria
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Dutch
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    = Alex op de Boerderij.<ref name="MobyGames"></ref>
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = French
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    = Alex à la ferme.<ref name="MobyGames"></ref>
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = German
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    = Alex' Abenteuer auf der Farm.<ref name="MobyGames"></ref>
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Portuguese
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    = ''Alex Constrói a Sua Quinta''.<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/alex-builds-his-farm|title=MobyGames|date=May 2023}}</ref>
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Brazilian Portuguese
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    = ''Alex, O Fazendeiro''.<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011223142720fw_/http://www.divertire.com.br/produtos/0033.htm|title=Divertire (archived)|date=May 2023}}</ref>
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Spanish
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = n/a
 +
|notes    = Alex en la granja.<ref name="MobyGames">[https://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/alex-builds-his-farm MobyGames]</ref>
 +
|fan      =
 
}}
 
}}
 +
}}
 +
 +
==Issues fixed==
 +
===Install the game on modern systems===
 +
{{--}} The game cannot be installed on 64-bit computers because it's a 16-bit application.
 +
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Use [https://github.com/otya128/winevdm winevdm]}}
 +
 +
===Stuck in Ubisoft Logo Loading (Direct3D mode)===
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Use [[dgVoodoo 2]]}}
 +
 +
===Game runs too fast (Direct3D mode)===
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Set refresh rate on 60Hz|ref=<ref>{{Refcheck|user=AlphaYellow|date=2024-01-27}}</ref>}}
 +
 +
===Game crashes on Alt+Tab===
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Install [[dgVoodoo 2]]}}
  
 
==Other information==
 
==Other information==
 
===API===
 
===API===
 
{{API
 
{{API
−
|direct3d versions      =  
+
|direct3d versions      = 6
 
|direct3d notes        =  
 
|direct3d notes        =  
 
|directdraw versions    =  
 
|directdraw versions    =  
Line 173: Line 300:
 
|opengl versions        =  
 
|opengl versions        =  
 
|opengl notes          =  
 
|opengl notes          =  
−
|glide versions        =  
+
|glide versions        = 3.10
 
|glide notes            =  
 
|glide notes            =  
 
|software mode          =  
 
|software mode          =  
Line 187: Line 314:
 
|shader model versions  =  
 
|shader model versions  =  
 
|shader model notes    =  
 
|shader model notes    =  
−
|64-bit executable     = unknown
+
|windows 32-bit exe    = true
−
|64-bit executable notes=  
+
|windows 64-bit exe    = false
 +
|windows arm app        =
 +
|windows exe notes      =
 +
|macos intel 32-bit app =
 +
|macos intel 64-bit app =
 +
|macos arm app          =
 +
|macos app notes        =
 +
|linux 32-bit executable=  
 +
|linux 64-bit executable=
 +
|linux arm app          =
 +
|linux executable notes =  
 
}}
 
}}
  

Latest revision as of 18:10, 22 April 2024

Alex Builds His Farm
Alex Builds His Farm cover
Developers
Ubisoft Montreal
Publishers
Playmobil Interactive
Engines
Ubisoft OpenSpace
Release dates
Windows July 15, 1999
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase
Modes Singleplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives Third-person
Controls Direct control
Genres Adventure, Building, Educational, Farming, Simulation
Vehicles Industrial
Art styles Stylized
Series Playmobil
Alex Builds His Farm on IGDB
Alex Builds His Farm on MobyGames
Playmobil
Laura's Happy Adventures 1998
Alex Builds His Farm 1999
Hype: The Time Quest 1999
Rescue from Rock Castle 2004
The Big Treasure Hunt 2005
Playmobil Alarm 2007
Playmobil Constructions 2007
Playmobil Knights 2009
Playmobil Pirates 2009
Playmobil: The Movie VR Adventures Cancelled

Warnings

SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see Availability for affected versions).

Alex Builds His Farm is a singleplayer third-person adventure, building, educational, farming and simulation game in the Playmobil series.

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
 SafeDisc 2 DRM[Note 1] with unreadable errors
Windows
SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).
This game is not available digitally.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows %WINDIR%\UbiSoft\ubi.ini[Note 2]

Save game data location

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

Video

Ubisoft Configuration Tool.
Ubisoft Configuration Tool.

Graphics feature State 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)
See Field of view (FOV).
Windowed
The game can be forced to run in Windowed mode, when using dgVoodoo2.
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.
Vertical sync (Vsync)
Always on in Direct3D. In Glide, use nGlide and set in nglide_config.exe, or use dgVoodoo2.
60 FPS
Frame rate is capped at 63 FPS in Glide. Animations are locked at 30 FPS by default, but their framerate can be increased by turning on "Use Animation Interpolation" inside Advanced Video Settings in <path-to-game>\UbiAssistant.exe.
120+ FPS
High dynamic range display (HDR)

Widescreen resolution

Game needs to have been run in admin mode before in order for it to write its settings to ubi.ini, which is in C: drive.
Change resolution[3]
  1. Open ubi.ini.
  2. Under the section [Alex Builds His Farm], add the line ScreenSize.
  3. Insert your preferred resolution (for example, ScreenSize=1920x1080).

Notes

dgVoodoo2 is needed for resolutions higher than 2048x2048 to work.
HUD is stretched.
Lower vertical FOV in wider aspect ratios. Increase FOV to compensate, see Field of view (FOV).

Field of view (FOV)

Change Field of View[4]
  1. Open Alex_D3D.exe or Alex_DFX.exe with a hex editor such as HxD.
  2. Press Ctrl+R and set Datatype to Hex-values.
  3. Search for 0000003F 0000803F.
  4. If using Alex_D3D.exe, search for the third match of it. For Alex_DFX.exe, search for the fourth match instead. Replace the 0000803F part with:
    • 8888883F for 5:4 screens
    • 0E745A3F for 25:16 screens
    • 5555553F for 16:10 screens
    • 0000503F for 15:9 screens
    • 0000403F for 16:9 screens
    • 0000103F for 21:9 screens

Notes

Objects keep appearing and disappearing outside the 4:3 area, which is very distracting.

Input

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Mouse acceleration
Mouse isn't supported in-game.
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Controller types

Audio

Sound Settings.
Sound Settings.

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Voices, Sound Effects and Music.
Surround sound
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
Italian
Alex e la sua fattoria
Dutch
Alex op de Boerderij.[5]
French
Alex à la ferme.[5]
German
Alex' Abenteuer auf der Farm.[5]
Portuguese
Alex Constrói a Sua Quinta.[6]
Brazilian Portuguese
Alex, O Fazendeiro.[7]
Spanish
Alex en la granja.[5]

Issues fixed

Install the game on modern systems

The game cannot be installed on 64-bit computers because it's a 16-bit application.
Use winevdm

Stuck in Ubisoft Logo Loading (Direct3D mode)

Use dgVoodoo 2

Game runs too fast (Direct3D mode)

Set refresh rate on 60Hz[8]

Game crashes on Alt+Tab

Install dgVoodoo 2

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 6
Glide 3.10
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

System requirements

Windows
Minimum
Operating system (OS) 95
Processor (CPU) Intel Pentium 166 MHz
System memory (RAM) 32 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 120 MB
Video card (GPU) 4 MB of VRAM
DirectX 6 compatible


Notes

  1. ↑ SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10[1] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.[2]
  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. ↑ Not Loading in Windows 10; this will break thousands of - Microsoft Community - last accessed on 2017-01-16
  2. ↑ Microsoft - MS15-097: Description of the security update for the graphics component in Windows: September 8, 2015 - last accessed on 2018-02-16
  3. ↑ Verified by User:AlphaYellow on 2022-11-19
    According to SuicideMachine's findings, the game's exe makes reference of the variable "ScreenSize", which can be altered in the config file and successfully changes the resolution if the game is run in admin mode.
  4. ↑ Verified by User:AlphaYellow on 2022-11-19
    Tested with several different FOVs and works.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 MobyGames
  6. ↑ MobyGames - last accessed on May 2023
  7. ↑ Divertire (archived) - last accessed on May 2023
  8. ↑ Verified by User:AlphaYellow on 2024-01-27