Black screen for video, black game screen with visible UI

Anyone know a solution to this problem? Making it impossible to play. I couldn't find the solution posted yet on this forum.

I can see the game menus and can make a character but when I get into the game I can only see the UI with a black screen in what would be the game screen, I can still talk w/ virgil on this black screen but the text stacks on top of each other.

 

I had a similar problem in my old old old computer.. I could overcome the problem by running safe-mode exe if I remember correctly. I think you have a compatibility problem, I suggest you start with checking your compatibility tab on properties.

 

Thanks for your help, sir.

I remember now that safe mode was the way I got it to work when I played it before. However, that was on a crack and I bought the GOG (Good Old Games) version recently and it doesn't come with safe mode apparently. Couldn't get an answer off their forums I had purchased the game when it first came out but my CD is long gone.

Was messing around with compatibility settings and couldn't seem to change anything at all. Tried the lowered res option and it didn't even seem to work. I got the resolution changer patch too and that didn't seem to help either.

I'm sure it has something to do with my video card, nvidia geforce 250 always causing problems.

I suppose the work around would be to get the pirated version and use the safe mode but that would defeat the purpose of buying it off GOG.

 

You can make your own safe mode shortcut.

All you have to do is create a shortcut to Arcanum.exe, proceed to its properties and add a single space and -no3d after the address in the target field.

 

That worked, thank you Muro. No video but at least I can see the game now.

cheers