Creatures Caves

[ Please view the resource for this article instead. It is much easier to follow and contains more relevant information and links. Still post here for help though, thank you! ]

I thought I'd make an in-depth step by step on how I got all of the programs to work the best they can on my Windows 8 computer. This is assuming you have a Windows 8 32-Bit system. Some of this stuff is included elsewhere, but I thought I'd include it all in one post! These methods may not work for you since Windows 8 is really messed up when it comes to old games! This is merely how I got them to work for me.

Creatures will NOT work on Windows 8 64-Bit systems. There are no other color modes other than 64-bit for these systems, as far as I know. If you are looking into getting Windows 8 [which I do not recommend as it is now] get a 32-Bit system or you will not be able to play Creatures!

Edit: Sgeo has mentioned that Docking Station does in fact work on their Windows 8 64-bit system. However, this may or may not be the case for all 64 bit systems, and it is unknown if Creatures 1, 2, or 3 will work. (Sgeo only stated they were using Docking Station) So while it seems it is possible for the Creatures Series to work with W8 64-bit systems, I will try to look into the matter and determine if all the 64-bit systems allow for 16-bit support. ...since it seems my information I received prior to writing this tutorial was a bit off regarding the Windows 8 64-bit System Emulator. Sorry if there was any confusion!

The Creatures Series should definitely work with Windows 8 64-bit systems, provided you follow the following steps.

It seems to be working fine for Windows 8 64-bit users.

I will approach this tutorial as if you have little knowledge of computers and/or you are new to the Creatures series. :3 Bear with me computer geniuses and veteran players, I want everyone to be able to understand this tutorial!

Things you will need:
-- The Albian Years - GOG.com Version
-- Creatures 3 - Disc
-- Docking Station - From wherever you get it
-- Creatures 3 Update #2
-- Docking Station Initial Log-in Bypass
----- I do not have Creatures Exodus! I use my original C3 disc and the Docking Station download from the original site. [Or TreeSprite's website, I don't recall] Both are the same. However, my tutorial may still work for those with Exodus, it just may need to be applied a bit differently. Ask for help here, and either me, or someone else with Exodus and Windows 8 may be able to help!

Creatures 1 on Windows 8:

I have an original disc for C1, but because it is really old, it will not install the game. That being said, I am using the GOG.com version, so this tutorial is not for those with a disc.

1. Install the Albian Years.

2. Run game. Yep, that's it. Worked perfectly for me.

3. It may ask if you wish to switch to 16-Bit mode, click yes or whatever it says, because 16-bit mode is required or it will not run!

Creatures 2 on Windows 8:

Now, this one gave me some headaches. I will hopefully be making a video on how I got it to work, in case you need a visual. I will try to be as descriptive as I can, however. Again, this is using the GOG.com version since my disc does not work. The following threads here and here may help too, if my way does not work for you.

Someone I know who works with computers identified the "Black Box of Doom" as a problem with the Windows 8 emulator. If you're good with that sort of thing, why not give it a go and try to make a good workaround?

1. Install the Albian Years from GOG.com

2. Attempt to run Creatures 2. (in case it works for you)

3. An error more than likely should pop up, prompting you to switch to 16-bit mode. Please click to do so.

4. It should then pop up with an error, asking to "Switch to" or "Cancel" click "Switch to" until C2 starts to run.

5. Once C2 is running, you may notice a black box covering much of the screen.

6. Close C2 if you see this box.

7. Go to C2's folder in your "Program Files" section, often located at:
Drive (C: ) > Program Files (x86) > GOG.com > The Albian Years > Creatures 2

8. There should be many applications within this folder, we are concerned with two. Right click on the application titled "creatures2"

9. Click on "Properties" from the drop-down menu.

10. Select the "Compatibility" tab.

11. Underneath the "Settings" section, click the box labeled "Reduced color mode" and select "16-bit" from the drop-down box next to it.
We will NOT be running C2 in compatibility mode OR as administrator. This causes C2 to not even start. (Not sure why)

12. Click "Apply" then "OK"
Now Creatures 2 will run without prompting you to switch to 16-bit color mode, and will do so automatically.

13. Click on the application titled "launcher" within the Creatures 2 folder.

14. C2 should start, but it will still have the black box.

15. Set C2 to full screen.

16. Then, set it to Windowed mode again.

17. Move the Window (Without adjusting it's size, leave it small, it should be the same size as the black box). Move it somewhere away form the black box.

18. Click it to full screen again, then return it to windowed mode again.

19. Close C2 while it is in Windowed Mode.

20. Start C2 again (it may start with C2 minimized, so maximize it) and you should notice that the black box has moved to where you moved the windowed box to last time.

21. Drag the windowed C2 down to the very bottom of your screen, so the top bar of it is visible over your taskbar, but the game itself is below the screen where you cannot see it.

22. Full screen the game, and then window it again.

23. Close C2.

24. Run C2, and the box should be trapped off the screen where you cannot see it.

25. Enjoy playing C2! It is still slightly buggy on Windows 8, however, but at least you can see!

There have been accounts that this causes the hand to disappear, however it is not so for me. If the hand does disappear for you, I'm sorry but I cannot help you. Describe your situation to me in detail and I will attempt to offer a solution, but don't become angry with me if it does not work. I cannot fix the problem because I never encountered it. Also, thank you to smelliot for this method, I just expanded it so people could understand it better. I myself didn't get what he or she meant at first!

If you encounter any other issues, post here so I (or others) can try to help!

Creatures 2 on Windows 8 Alternate [Black Box of Doom] Fix:

When my game crashed as I was trying to remove the box from a different world using the above method (to no avail), I stumbled upon an accidental fix when trying to close C2! This is really easy to do!
Note: You will have to do this every time you play Creatures 2! Also note that this is more likely to make the hand disappear.

1. Open Creatures 2 after completing steps 1-12 on the previous section.

2. Open a world of your choice.

3. Press CTRL + ALT + DEL

4. Click on "Task Manager"

5. The box will disappear for the current session!

-- Again, MUST repeat every time you play! The other method is slightly more permanent, but harder to do.

Creatures 3 on Windows 8:

Installation of this game is using my C3 disc, NOT Exodus! It worked for me very easily, and it basically has the same guidelines as Docking Station.

1. Install Creatures 3

2. Run the game. If it prompts you to go to 16-bit mode, please click to do so.

3. Enjoy Creatures 3!

Optional Steps:

-- Go to your Creatures 3 folder and select the application that launches C3. Right click on it and go to "Properties".
-- Go to the "Compatibility" tab and select the box "Reduced color mode" under the "Settings" section.
-- Select from the drop down box, "16-bit".
-- Click "Apply" then "OK" and launch C3.
-- Enjoy without being prompted to switch to 16-bit mode!

NOTE: You will need a patch for Creatures 3 to work with Docking Station. See Docking Station on Windows 8 for more information.

Docking Station on Windows 8:

This is using the original download from the Docking Station site, or the one from TreeSprites Creatures Grove. NOT Creatures Exodus!

1. Download Docking Station from either of the following links:
-- Gameware Development Most of the download links no longer work.
-- TreeSprite's Site - Little more reliable. Download the file listed as for Windows systems.

2. Install Docking Station.

3. Run Docking Station. I don't remember what pops up, but if it asks you to update DS decline! It doesn't work since gameware's site is all wonky.

4. You will be prompted to go to 16-bit color mode. Here we go again! Note: This has slightly different steps than before!

5. Go to Docking Station's folder and right click on the Launcher application. (Usually titled "Docking Station" or "engine" )

6. Click on "Properties" and go to the "Compatibility" tab.

7. This is where it gets different! Click the box under the "Compatibility mode" section, and select "Windows XP (Service Pack 2)" from the drop-down menu. This is to hopefully ensure it runs properly.
DO NOT run the compatibility troubleshooter, it is a huge waste of time!

8. Under the "Settings" section, click the box called "Reduced color mode" and select "16-bit" from the drop-down box. You will no longer be prompted to switch to 16-bit to run the game!

9. Under "Privilege level" select the box called "Run this program as an administrator" because, why not?

10. Click "Apply" then "OK".

11. You may now run Docking Station.
-- HOWEVER, you will need an initial login bypass of some sort, since you can no longer register an account with Creature Labs and play online!

12. Follow my "Bypassing the Initial Log-in of Docking Station" steps and then enjoy!

Bypassing the Initial Log-in of Docking Station:

-- Download Creatures 1 to Docking Station (C1toDS) here, the link is here on the Creatures Wiki. It comes with a built-in initial log-in bypass!
OR
-- Download an initial log-in bypass. I do not have a link to one, but if someone has it, give it to me so I can put it here. :3

-- Install either of these once you download them, and select "Play Offline" when you start Docking Station.

Getting Docking Station to work with Creatures 3:

Only look at this if you have Creatures 3 and wish to play in docked worlds. or, worlds that use both Docking Station and Creatures 3 metarooms!

1. Download the patch from TreeSprite's site here.
-- Should be called "Creatures3 Update #2"

2. Install Update

3. You can now play with docked worlds!

Enjoy playing the Creatures Series! If you have any problems list them here and we will try to help you! Visit Laura's Post for other helpful guides! Please note that all these games may still be a little buggy, since they are designed for OLD windows systems. This is to be expected an is often not fixable. But don't worry, you can still enjoy the games!

If you spot any errors in this post let me know so I can fix them! Sorry if something like this has already been posted, but I searched and did not find anything this direct to addressing possible issues on Windows 8.

~Issy [ngeek]