Problem - I need help!

[NeoPuma]

Hi there,
I've just installed Roller Coaster Tycoon 3, and I keep getting this error when I try to run it:
'Failed to create Direct3D Device. This error has also been sent to Debug.log OK: <Attempt to continue> Cancel: <Exit>'

How can I fix this please?

-Neo

[Silkius]

Most likley problem I'm afaraid is either you have an on-vboard graficks card (or chip) or your graphics/video card is not within spec for this game -

You must have a card that can manage real 3d accelration and hardware T&L (Transform & Lighting calculations) such as an Nvidia GeForce 2 and higher or ATI Radeon cards.

There are a couple of error messages which can be seen when the graphics capability of your system is not up to the required specification: Graphics cards provide information to the PC system when they are installed regarding their capabilities, and RCT3 reads this information.

If the graphics card is not of the required performance then RCT3 will not start and will display a message to that effect.

In some cases the driver software for the graphics cards can effectively “mis-represent” their capabilities to the PC system, causing RCT3 to try and run on a graphics card which does not offer the required functionality. In this case an error message “Cannot create Direct 3D device” is displayed by Direct X. If you see either of these messages they mean that the 3D graphics capability of your system does not meet the game’s requirements. Please be aware that this could well be the case with PCs which are relatively new – even today PCs are sold with on-board graphics systems that do not offer hardware T&L.

(This is taken from the official Frontier FAQ also posted above)
Sorry but it looks like your card is not upto spec - it is important to know rouglhy what the specs of your machine are and check them againt the box before you buy.
I used to have them written down and gave copies to relatives/friends who were likley to buy me something, so they didn't inadvertadly buy me a game or something I could not run (cos that is worse than not getting it)
Unfortunatly PC's are not like games consoles and every game WILL NOT necessarily run on every PC.

[NeoPuma]

Well, I have got an onboard 128meg Gfx Card. So why would that effect it? Thats like...£30 wasted if i cant get it fixed.

-Neo

[Silkius]

I don't know much about the on-board GFX cards other than that most are 'limited' in what they can actually do (same goes for sound cards) in comparison to propper plug in cards.

Like celeron chips, and other 'cost cutting' options these are really aimed at basic home users and are fine for most work apps, browsing and 'basic' games - but are not really up to hard core stuff.

i.e. because my PC is largley for work - I needed a top GFX card, but sound was not top of the 'need' list so I went for on-board sound, and whilst it does the job. it is NOT a patch on a true dedicated sound card - it supposedly has some kind of EAX simulation, but it is choppy and unreliable. So I am looking to replace it with a propper one in the new year. Sad, but a fact, but the big names like ATI, Nvidea, Intel, AMD and Creative are big because they specialise in their fields.

Because of this Games designers are less likley to take lesser manufactures into account when they program - There are so many variable on PC configs today they 'have' to go for the largest common denominators.

Unfortunatly (In my experience) sales staff, advertisers etc., are not very good at telling the buying public this - and are quite happy to tell you otherwise (I have had stand up rows in PC stores when overhearing the rubbish they are trying to tell some poor misguided buyer who does not know quite enough to realise they are not being told the 'whole truth' - to the point I was actually banned from one PC World. )

The best bit about PC's is that on the whole they can be upgraded and expanded on - the worst bit is this costs money - but the old addage that -you get what you pay for - has never been more apt than in the PC industry
I have (too often) bought cheaper motherboards, CPUs, even RAM and other items thinking I was saving money - but in the long run it has 'nearly always' been these items I have had problems with - or somewhere along the line have just not been up to the job I asked of them.