"Balls of Steel" and Windows XP

zadram · 02-17-2002, 05:06 PM

I upgraded to Windows XP the other night. Most of my older games are running okay, but Balls of Steel is totally unplayable because the game doesn't react to the keyboard inputs quickly enough. I press the Shift keys to move the flippers, and five seconds later they move; sometimes, though, they don't move at all. The graphics still run fast, it's just the keyboard inputs that don't work right. It's a shame, as BoS was a great game. I guess I'll have to settle for the cheap pinball game that came with XP. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

Joe Siegler · 02-17-2002, 05:21 PM

Did you get the 1.3 patch that's avialable online? I have XP here, and don't have this problem with it.

Scotty · 02-17-2002, 08:22 PM

Off-topic to the specific problem in this thread, but on-topic to "Balls of Steel" and Windows XP... [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

The only issues I ran into with Balls of Steel and Windows XP were registry permissions and Accessibility Options.

If there is a registry permissions issue, a "Failed to create key" error will occur when trying to start a game. This can be fixed by logging on as an administrator, running Regedit, navigating to HKLM\Software\Wildfire Studios\Balls of Steel, then altering the permissions for that key to allow Users and Power Users full control, then using the Advanced tab to apply those permissions to child keys/values.

If there is an Accessibility issue, one or more of the Accessibility options will pop up due to repeatedly hitting or holding down the Shift keys. It's necessary to hit the Settings button for each of the keyboard options in Accessibility Options, then click to clear the "Use Shortcut" option, even though the keyboard options on the main tab appear to be cleared.

zadram · 02-19-2002, 09:55 PM

I have the 1.3 patch. Maybe I need to add more RAM? I have 128MB now, and running a 700MHz AMD Athlon.

02-19-2002, 11:58 PM

do you have a USB keyboard?

zadram · 02-20-2002, 08:27 PM

Quote:

do you have a USB keyboard?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">No, it's a PS2 keyboard. Would a USB keyboard make a difference?

Thanks.

08-13-2002, 08:26 PM

Hey Zadram,

What you need to do is change the game properties to Windows 95 compatibility mode.

I had the exact same problem as you and this is the cure..... [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Do not settle for the cheap pinball game that came with XP... [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

02-17-2002, 05:21 PM	#2
Joe Siegler 3D Realms Staff	Re: "Balls of Steel" and Windows XP Did you get the 1.3 patch that's avialable online? I have XP here, and don't have this problem with it. __________________ Apogee / 3D Realms Employee: Dec 14, 1992 - May 22, 2009, Oct 23, 2014 - current "Lifting up the Cross to the waiting lost" - Petra \| John 3:16

02-19-2002, 11:58 PM	#5
Guest Guest	Re: "Balls of Steel" and Windows XP do you have a USB keyboard?

08-13-2002, 08:26 PM	#7
Guest Guest	Re: "Balls of Steel" and Windows XP Hey Zadram, What you need to do is change the game properties to Windows 95 compatibility mode. I had the exact same problem as you and this is the cure..... [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] Do not settle for the cheap pinball game that came with XP... [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

02-17-2002, 05:06 PM	#1
zadram	"Balls of Steel" and Windows XP I upgraded to Windows XP the other night. Most of my older games are running okay, but Balls of Steel is totally unplayable because the game doesn't react to the keyboard inputs quickly enough. I press the Shift keys to move the flippers, and five seconds later they move; sometimes, though, they don't move at all. The graphics still run fast, it's just the keyboard inputs that don't work right. It's a shame, as BoS was a great game. I guess I'll have to settle for the cheap pinball game that came with XP. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

02-17-2002, 08:22 PM	#3
Scotty	Re: "Balls of Steel" and Windows XP Off-topic to the specific problem in this thread, but on-topic to "Balls of Steel" and Windows XP... [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] The only issues I ran into with Balls of Steel and Windows XP were registry permissions and Accessibility Options. If there is a registry permissions issue, a "Failed to create key" error will occur when trying to start a game. This can be fixed by logging on as an administrator, running Regedit, navigating to HKLM\Software\Wildfire Studios\Balls of Steel, then altering the permissions for that key to allow Users and Power Users full control, then using the Advanced tab to apply those permissions to child keys/values. If there is an Accessibility issue, one or more of the Accessibility options will pop up due to repeatedly hitting or holding down the Shift keys. It's necessary to hit the Settings button for each of the keyboard options in Accessibility Options, then click to clear the "Use Shortcut" option, even though the keyboard options on the main tab appear to be cleared.

02-19-2002, 09:55 PM	#4
zadram	Re: "Balls of Steel" and Windows XP I have the 1.3 patch. Maybe I need to add more RAM? I have 128MB now, and running a 700MHz AMD Athlon.