GTA2 Windows 10 "Fix"

[---------------------- 1,270]

Ok, using Toshiba-3's awesome guide/mod here as a base, I think I've found a legit crash-free fix for GTA 2 on modern Windows (in my case 10). Before hand, the game would freeze every 3 mins or so, forcing me to log out and log back in of my computer. After applying this method, no crashes so far. No guarantees it will work for anyone else, but I don't see why not:

 

1. First you need to install GTA 2 11.44. I don't know if I can link to it, but it shouldn't be hard to find.

2. Install Nglide. You can grab it from here.

3. Launch Nglide Configurator and adjust the settings so they match these, then apply, save and exit the program:
Screen resolution: By desktop
Aspect ratio: Preserve original
Refresh rate: By app (Default)
Vertical sync': On (Default)
Gamma correction: 0.8
3Dfx logo splash: Off

4. Go the GTA2 install directory and launch the GTA2Manager executable.

5. Go the video tab, and change the Screen Mode drop-down option from "Direct3D" to "3DFXGlide". While you're here, make sure Frame Rate Limiter is ticked.

6. Don't bother selecting a resolution, just click the GTA2 button and the game should load.

 

I've played for a few hours and no crashes at all, yet before it would hard freeze every 3 mins or so. Again, just a tip to try. It might actually work for someone else, besides me.

 

Full credit to Toshiba-3 as well as all the other talented people in the community.

 

EDIT: Also massive thanks and credits to Sektor and Vike for patching the game for all these years. You're both top blokes. Cheers!

Edited November 19, 2016 by ----------------------

[FulValBot 19]

I'm playing gta2 without problems on my windows 10 anniversary update... and i have installed only gta2 from steam client, just this...

 

There are some slowdowns (and minor speed) with amd cpus... (all gpus nvidia and amd works just fine)

[TomRous 0]

I'm playing gta2 without problems on my windows 10 anniversary update... and i have installed only gta2 from steam client, just this...

 

There are some slowdowns (and minor speed) with amd cpus... (all gpus nvidia and amd works just fine)

I looked for GTA 2 on Steam but i couldn´t find DOWNLOAD button. It is downloadable? I looked on R* web too (www.rockstargames.com/classics/) but this web is unavaiable. How to get it on Steam?

[FulValBot 19]

it's not a free version, it was included with GTA Complete Pack (that still available on GMG, and include a steam key, but not for GTAV)

[Ingramsl 213]

Ok, using Toshiba-3's awesome guide/mod here as a base, I think I've found a legit crash-free fix for GTA 2 on modern Windows (in my case 10). Before hand, the game would freeze every 3 mins or so, forcing me to log out and log back in of my computer. After applying this method, no crashes so far. No guarantees it will work for anyone else, but I don't see why not:

 

1. First you need to install GTA 2 11.44. I don't know if I can link to it, but it shouldn't be hard to find.

2. Install Nglide. You can grab it from here.

3. Launch Nglide Configurator and adjust the settings so they match these, then apply, save and exit the program:

Screen resolution: By desktop

Aspect ratio: Preserve original

Refresh rate: By app (Default)

Vertical sync': On (Default)

Gamma correction: 0.8

3Dfx logo splash: Off

4. Go the GTA2 install directory and launch the GTA2Manager executable.

5. Go the video tab, and change the Screen Mode drop-down option from "Direct3D" to "3DFXGlide". While you're here, make sure Frame Rate Limiter is ticked.

6. Don't bother selecting a resolution, just click the GTA2 button and the game should load.

 

I've played for a few hours and no crashes at all, yet before it would hard freeze every 3 mins or so. Again, just a tip to try. It might actually work for someone else, besides me.

 

Full credit to Toshiba-3 as well as all the other talented people in the community.

 

EDIT: Also massive thanks and credits to Sektor and Vike for patching the game for all these years. You're both top blokes. Cheers!

Use widescreen fix by ThirteenAG if you have a 1920x1080 Resolution Here: https://thirteenag.github.io/wfp

Download File and Extract them and play the game

Edited June 1, 2017 by Sektor

[Sektor 103]

Pretty sure Steam version has the same compatibility as classics version or 11.44, so if those don't work for you then Steam version won't work either. I don't have the Steam version so I can't confirm that but I doubt Rockstar fixed it in any way.

Edited June 1, 2017 by Sektor

[FulValBot 19]

steam version and rockstar free version are the same version... only retail version is different

[NoNameBandit 243]

I have the game on CD, but it ran like poop on W10 for me. I needed 11.44 just to get the game to start.

Edited June 1, 2017 by Sektor

[WeaponApe 32]

Ok, using Toshiba-3's awesome guide/mod here as a base, I think I've found a legit crash-free fix for GTA 2 on modern Windows (in my case 10). Before hand, the game would freeze every 3 mins or so, forcing me to log out and log back in of my computer. After applying this method, no crashes so far. No guarantees it will work for anyone else, but I don't see why not:

 

1. First you need to install GTA 2 11.44. I don't know if I can link to it, but it shouldn't be hard to find.

2. Install Nglide. You can grab it from here.

3. Launch Nglide Configurator and adjust the settings so they match these, then apply, save and exit the program:

Screen resolution: By desktop

Aspect ratio: Preserve original

Refresh rate: By app (Default)

Vertical sync': On (Default)

Gamma correction: 0.8

3Dfx logo splash: Off

4. Go the GTA2 install directory and launch the GTA2Manager executable.

5. Go the video tab, and change the Screen Mode drop-down option from "Direct3D" to "3DFXGlide". While you're here, make sure Frame Rate Limiter is ticked.

6. Don't bother selecting a resolution, just click the GTA2 button and the game should load.

I've done all this, but come to a halt at 5. In the Screen Mode drop-down, there is no option for anything other than 3DFXGlide, even after installing it.

[FulValBot 19]

use dgvoodoo2, not nglide

[WeaponApe 32]

I downloaded it and read the readme, and I can't understand anything or how to possibly apply it to a game.

[delete dis account l8r 1]

DgVoodoo is the best as there are no glitches.

[FulValBot 19]

yep, and i've enabled scanline emulation

[jacka 139]

I downloaded it and read the readme, and I can't understand anything or how to possibly apply it to a game.

Drop Nglide into your GTA2 folder, then try loading the game's launcher (step 5). Or use Dgvoodoo2 as the other guy said (adjust the settings, then drop the required files into the game's install directory, like with Nglide).

 

yep, and i've enabled scanline emulation

I'm personally not a fan of scanline emulation. It doesn't look right.

 

Does the new widescreen patch work with this? Anyone tried?

Edited July 29, 2017 by jacka

[Sektor 103]

It's not compatible with thirteenag's widescreen patch, I just get "Videomode 16x16x16 is not available". Not surprising considering that patch was written for direct3d and it uses a modified ddraw.dll file. It would be awesome if they could be combined.

 

As for nglide or any other glide wrapper...

 

I used GTA2 v11.44. The gta2manager selector and resolution choices are always blank on my Windows 10 system. To test out glide, I needed to import this registry key http://gtamp.com/GTA2/glide.reg.

 

 

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\DMA Design Ltd\GTA2\Screen]"rendername"="3dfx.dll""videoname"="dmaglide.dll"

If I run gta2manager again, it resets to direct3d.

 

GTA2 already runs fast and stable with direct3d for me, so I would only be using glide for the improved colour depth.

Edited July 29, 2017 by Sektor

[FulValBot 19]

If you got "Videomode 16x16x16 is not available" error try to start Gta2 Manager and Gta2.exe with Xp sp3 compatibility mode only the first time

[jacka 139]

@ Sektor: That's a shame about the widescreen patch. Thanks. As for Nglide/Voodoo2 not showing up in gtamanager, it works fine on my W10 system (64 bit, Creator's update):

 

 

No compatibility modes have been enabled. No idea why it isn't working on your system.

 

EDIT: Sorry re-read, it still shows up and sticks after restarting. Have you tried it with admin rights?

 

EDIT2: Did some testing. Nglide and this widescreen patch both use their own ddraw.dll. One won't work with the other, as Sektor has already said. I tested the widescreen patch and it worked, but I got slight stuttering. Restored the nglide files, and no stutter, but back to 4:3.

Edited July 29, 2017 by jacka

[Commander238 1]

Hi, there is a way to run stable GTA2 with the Widescreen patch in Windows 10:

 

1. Install the latest widescreen patch to the GTA2 directory.
2. Click on Start & type optionalfeatures & press Enter

The dialog "Turn windows features on or off" appears.
Enable Legacy Components -> DirectPlay

3. Change the compatibility settings of all GTA executables - reduce the color mode to 16Bit color (65536)

Or there is a .reg file, which modifies the compatibility settings (the path may be different):

REGEDIT4

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers]
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\SteamApps\\Common\\Grand Theft Auto 2\\gta2 manager.exe"="~ 16BITCOLOR"
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\SteamApps\\Common\\Grand Theft Auto 2\\gta2.exe"="~ 16BITCOLOR"
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\SteamApps\\Common\\Grand Theft Auto 2\\GTA2manager.exe"="~ 16BITCOLOR"
 

[Sheri 0]

hello guys, I'm from Germany.

 

A few weeks ago I could play online with my mathe. We used the gamehunter-tool for this. Now we wanted to do this again, but it doesn't work anymore. First problem, when I try to use the widescreen fix from thirteen the game will crash when I try to launch it, second, if I don't use the widescreen fix the game will launch/start in singleplayer-mode, but when I try to join the game in a online session of my mate with gamehunter the lobbyscreen will freeze and crash in gamehunter. I'm using the most actual version of windows 10, I  believe it could be the reason for the widescreen-problem and maybe for the problem to play online with gamehunter too. Is anyone playing gta2 with widescreen fix and newest version of windows 10? And is anyone playing successful online with gamehunter and windows 10?

 

regards from Germany

[Sektor 103]

The widescreen patch will cause desync in multiplayer. It definitely won’t sync if only one side uses it. It wasn’t designed for multiplayer, so just don’t use it.

 

The GTA2 lobby freezes when some network ports are open but not all of them. This also happens when UPnP doesn’t work right, so disable UPnP.

Edited December 20, 2018 by Sektor

[Sheri 0]

On 12/20/2018 at 7:32 PM, Sektor said:

The widescreen patch will cause desync in multiplayer. It definitely won’t sync if only one side uses it. It wasn’t designed for multiplayer, so just don’t use it.

 

The GTA2 lobby freezes when some network ports are open but not all of them. This also happens when UPnP doesn’t work right, so disable UPnP.

Is the widescreenfix generally working for you? In the past it worked for me in single and multiplayer, my mate uses it too, but now the game won't launch with the widescreenfix, it starts with a black screen and crashes to the desktop and I don't know why (singleplayer) if I delete the widescreenfix from thirteen the game starts again.
 

okay the online problem is solved. my mate has fail with his port forwarding, now it works. but for me the widescreen fix doesn't work and I don't know why

EDIT2: my problem with the widescreen fix is now solved too. The problem was that my monitor is running on 2560x1080 / 21:9 format and it's more than 1080p and it seems to be a problem with the widescreen fix. but someone postet here the solution https://github.com/UCyborg/LegacyD3DResolutionHack/releases just copy the files in the main gta2 folder and it works with higher resolutions!! IM HAPPY NOW!! merry christmas to all

 

Edited December 24, 2018 by Sheri
online mode work's now again, second edit now my widescreen fix works too!!

[Sheri 0]

another new problem 😞

 

I installed the newest version of thirteens widescreenfix and I used the d3dresolutionhack, now my game starts with 21:9 format in 2560x1080 but when I drive a very fast car I have graphic problems, maybe anyone knows a solution?

I'm using windows 10, with a nividia 980gtx ti, newest updates and drivers are installed

 

 

EDIT: Problem is now solved. you can read the things here

https://github.com/ThirteenAG/WidescreenFixesPack/issues/564

Edited December 24, 2018 by Sheri
problem now solved

[DEALUX 2,399]

I'm getting 19 FPS or less in this game with all of the fixes. Unplayable for me. Perhaps it is due to the 165 Hz refresh rate of my monitor. Can't seem to be able to disable v-sync.

[FulValBot 19]

I think that this game is good only with a 60hz of refresh rate and without widescreen patch...

[Sektor 103]

Widescreen patch does decrease performance a bit, probably because it's not just a patch, it attaches a live debugger and patches in realtime. It performs better in window mode for me but I've only really used the widescreen patch out of curiosity, I always go back to normal.

 

I only have a 60Hz monitor, so I haven't tried GTA2 at higher rates. The game is capped at 30 FPS.

Edited January 12 by Sektor

[jacka 139]

I wonder, would playing it in windowed and then forcing it borderless windowed give you full screen *without* the cost of performance degradation?

[SnakeUnleashed 0]

Hi guys, for those who think that GTA2 is not playable on Widescreen patch as on 4:3 mode (or w\o widescreen patch), I am dropping by to share my method of how I got GTA2 to run perfectly at 30 + FPS with the widescreen patch and how you can even have some CONTROL over the FPS you want. The steps shall follow below, but I hope my steps give you a definitive guide to enjoying this game IN WIDESCREEN, using my own experience messing around with the game for 2 (mostly) sleepless nights..lol

About FPS (Go 60FPS or NOT)
Okay, First things first.. Do not play this game at 60 FPS.. if you must play it at a higher FPS, 35 is the sweet spot or max 40 (this is on foot~ fps goes down when accelerating) is ideal. 
60FPS only increases game speed to 2x and that's not what you want, I wish I could run Dino Crisis 2 or Resident Evil 3 in 60 FPS.. but you get my point..  i.e. some games are designed (unintentionally) to just speed up at 60FPS and in contrast, some are (again, intentionally) designed to take advantage of the 60FPS. (Silent Hill 1 on PS1 60FPS is a great example of taking advantage of modern systems).

GTA2 belongs to the latter, its not designed to take advantage of modern systems, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, as the gameplay is already fast, and we don't want it to hit more than 35 or 39 ideally (still better than the game's own 30FPS default. Trust me, 35 - 39 or around that.. that's the sweet spot.

(NOTE: These steps are for the FreeRockstarClassicsVersion which is version 9.6 and is still available on the "www.chip.de" website or elsewhere, the WIDESCREEN FIX by the great ThirteenAG seems to have been designed for this version, and a big shout out to him for enabling me to enjoy this game and many other classics in widescreen. )

 

The Steps,in order
After installation: 

1) Copy the widescreen fix folder contents to game directory in order to apply the widescreen fix. Notice that the game performance is severely compromised after widescreen fix.

2) To remedy this, right click for properties of both gta2manager.exe and gta2.exe and set to "reduced color mode" 16 bit and also check "run as administrator" for both . (CREDIT TO "Commander 238" on this forum for this ESSENTIAL tip)

3) Turn off frame limiter in gta2 manager as its limiting us to around 25FPS. Our aim is to get around 35FPS for GTA2 
(Our desktop monitor resolution will affect frame rate so adjust it accordingly to get desired frame rate, ideally 1600x900 for 35plus or 1920x1080 for 30fps) 

4) Open "regedit" in the RUN command and go to to "Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\DMA Design Ltd\GTA2\Screen", here adjust "max_frame_rate" to 0 and "min_frame_rate" to 1 (Tip: if you want to lock to 30FPS, then keep max_frame_rate to 1, but for now lets keep it simple and go with 0, as you can change this later. )

Important: No need to adjust resolution in widescreen fix cfg file, if you want the patch to automatically run game at your desktop resolution.

Bonus Tips: use lower res in widescreen fix cfg than desktop res to get windowed mode.

That's it. Try these steps and please follow up and let me know how it goes. Cheers!