Thexder 95 - Full game thinks its a demo

[goatmeal]

First of all, many, MANY thanks to Collector for his custom installers, Tawmis for hosting this great site, and to Jafa for his custom installers for Windows95/98 Sierra gaming.

My problem:

I am very grateful for the Thexder 95 installer for Vista and Windows 7. After spending a good deal of time getting a Win98 Virtual Machine running, the keyboard was a bit too laggy for my tastes.

I used the Thexder 95 installer on my Windows 7-64x machine, and it copied all of the files to my HDD. It plays great, with only a few trades-offs (which are to be expected): the video cut-scenes don't work but there is audio (no big loss), and the FM Synthesis/Sound Blaster music dumped me to the desktop on one level when the music file ended -- again, no big deal; I would rather play it without music, anyway.

However, something came up at the end of the first world, Terra Nova. After I defeat the boss, the audio for the cut-scene plays, and after that, a message appears saying:

Official CD not found
Thank you for playing this demo of Thexder.

...which ends the game without advancing me to the next world.

Now, I made an ISO from my original Thexder 95 version 1.0 disk in anticipation of using it in a Virtual Machine, and used it with the Vista/Win7 Installer using a Daemon Tools virtual CD/DVD drive. Whether I play it from the HDD (Vista/Win7 Installer), run it directly from the ISO drive, or run it directly from the original CD in my DVD Drive, I keep getting the same message.

I then dug up saved game files I had from 1997 where I had successfully beaten the game. Now I can start on any of the 10 different worlds (using the "revert" option), but when I defeat the boss at the end of each world's 5th level, I keep getting the same message described above...

Any ideas? I'm not sure why it's not recognizing that the CD is legitimate and not a demo. Some trigger or bug in the programming that just isn't working properly with a newer OS?

====================

Also, in the on-line help file for Thexder 95, they make mention of an add-on called "Thexder Extras":

Thexder Extras

Available January, 1996
A supplemental on-line Help file that contains all the information you need to get through each level of Thexder plus an editor to create your own new levels to challenge yourself and your friends plus lots of new map levels to play. A real value and a great addition that makes Thexder even more fun! Included are the following:

Secret Stuff
This part of Thexder Extras gives you the secret codes to increase your ammo, equipment, energy charges, and energy cells (extra lives). It's as easy as typing phrases from your keyboard. Now you can get past those levels that are just a bit too tough.

Play Hints
Having trouble getting past one of the techies? Can't seem to avoid that lava pit? Can't find the hidden path to a new location? Use this section of Thexder Extras to find the most efficient weapon to eliminate that techie, the best form for Thexder in some locations, and where to find hidden weapons and equipment. Find out each techie's pattern of movement and when he is vulnerable to your attack.

Maps and Solutions
The third part of Thexder Extras illustrates graphically a successful path through every level and shows hidden shootaways and foreground cells. Find the locations of hidden ammo and equipment, and read hints on how to get to them.

Level Editor
Create new levels for any world to surprise and challenge your friends. This is the development tool used to create and decorate all of the levels in Thexder. Have access to the special tiles for walls that you walk behind instead of bumping into, shoot-away tiles, platforms, switches, lava, acid, caves, conveyers, and invisible floors and walls.

More Levels
Brand new levels have been created for those who just can't get enough of this robot. New ideas, new challenges, and new puzzles are all available to challenge you at any difficulty. Explore the new ice caves, race along the girders of Geigerus, or find your way through the the caves of Chaox. An absolute necessity for all Thexderites.

How to Order
Cost of Thexder Extras is $14.95 plus shipping and handling.
For more information call 1-800-757-7707 or contact Sierra via World Wide WEB at http://www.sierra.com

Periodic searches using Google, the Internet Archive, Ebay and MobyGames over the years haven't revealed any information as to the existence of this mysterious add-on pack.

Was it ever released? Or did the sales numbers for this edition of Thexder and not-so-glowing reviews at the time prevent that?

I'd certainly love to find a copy of it somewhere, if only to sneak a peek at cheat codes that would actually work for this game...

Sorry for being so long here. Thanks for listening and any help you can provide for either inquiry.

~Goatmeal

[Collector]

The Thexder95 installer is one that I have never had any feedback. Until someone reports an issue I am unaware of I can't fix it. Unfortunately, some never report problem so I can fix them. Though I have tested Thexder95 installed with the new installer, I have never spent any more time playing it beyond the first level. Attach you save games and I'll take a look to see if I can sort it out.

I have never seen this extras disc. I have managed to salvage most of the old Sierra FTP, but if this was a physical distribution it may have never been placed on the FTP. Since some may not read this part of the forums I would suggest that you ask in the This Old Game forum to see if anyone may have stumbled across this extras disc.

[goatmeal]

Thank you, Collector. I will try to get some saved games to you this weekend.

Again, at first I thought it might be an installer issue, but that was quickly ruled out. After having re-finished the entire game/all levels from that one 1997 saved game -- and the error happening at the end of EACH of the 9 boss levels -- it's likely something in the game's programming or something not being recognized or triggered properly on a newer OS.

I'm just happy I can play it on Win7 without having to fire up my Win98 machine !

Thanks for you time, and I'll get you the files as soon as I can.

~Goatmeal

[Collector]

Just to let you know, I have not forgotten about this. My monitor burned up and I am in the process of getting it replaced.

[goatmeal]

I'm very sorry to hear about your monitor!

Honestly, I'm in no hurry, Collector. Your terrific installer allows me to play it on a Win7-64x machine, and I have devised a work-around by using my old saved game file(s)... And after finishing the game again a week ago or so, it'll be quite some time before I'm ready to play it again.

I'm just grateful that you are willing to take a look at it.

[Collector]

I finally had a chance to take a look at this. I got that message when I used your save games, but when I start from a new game it does not happen. Were you using your old saves or new ones from the installer?

[goatmeal]

Thanks for looking.

I was playing from your installer and started a new game; at the end of World 1 / Level 5, it gave me the 'thanks for playing the demo' message.

Then, I uninstalled the game and tried running/playing it directly from the ISO of the original CD-ROM (no install, since the CD's 16-bit installer doesn't work) and started a new game -- once I defeated the first world's boss, same thing.

Lastly, I tried running/playing directly from the original CD in my optical drive (no install, since the CD's 16-bit installer doesn't work) -- again, started a new game, defeated the first world's boss, I got the 'demo' message.


Then, I dug up my old save game file, replayed the entire game, and got the same 'demo' message at the end of each of the first 9 Worlds.

If it helps, my CD is version 1.0.

[Collector]

I'll continue to look, but can't promise anything soon.

[goatmeal]

I thank you for even offering to look.

Don't know of anyone else interested in this particular Sierra action game...

If nothing can be done -- so be it. I am grateful that your installer works, and I have a suitable work-around so I can still enjoy the game.

Many thanks, Collector!

[goatmeal]

A belated follow-up:

I recently created a Windows XP Virtual Machine. Running that OS in a VM (and not on actual hardware), the Sierra set-up program for Thexder 95 didn't "see" that I had enough RAM, though in actuality I had plenty. So, I installed it using Collector's program with the ISO I made from my original CD two years ago.

The game plays perfectly. Once I got to the end of the 5th Level of World 1, it went on to World 2 / Level 1 without any problems; no more "Thanks for playing the demo" message!

So, perhaps it's a error triggered when playing this 16x game on a 64x system (but not a 32x system)? Or something to do with the OS itself -- XP vs Win 7? (I don't have a Vista to test...)

Regardless, I wanted to say thanks again for all of your Install Programs, Collector!

[Collector]

I wrote the installer when I was still on XP. Your find might be a clue as to what is going on.

[Tawmis]

I wrote the installer when I was still on XP. Your find might be a clue as to what is going on.

I foresee an update to the Installer in the near future...?

[Collector]

About the same time as your SCI update of Final Soul.

[Tawmis]

About the same time as your SCI update of Final Soul.

Come on! At least drop it down to me doing an AGI version. (Still relatively the same time line... but you gotta let me build up from AGI then to SCI)!