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Okay, I actually had to RTFM for this, and I'm still not coming up with anything...

Picked up X-Com + all DLC over Christmas. Finally got to install in on the 26th. During the installation, my computer went screwy (right when it started installing the C++ runtime [I think?] and Direct X on the first run of the game, as they do on Steam). When it got borked, I didn't have time to look it back over, and was only able to look back at it on the 27th.

Now, the game simply refuses to run, past the initial "Preparing to Launch" window popping up. Steam Support (here) says to reinstall the required programs from the steamapps subfolder containing the game. Tried that.

They suggest following a Windows support thread... I followed it, reinstalled the Windows installer...

All I want to do is play my damned game! *frustrated wailing* Is it something in the registry that I have to deal with, or.... (now I know how people feel when they ask me dumb questions about law enforcement. I hate being ignorant...)

Just throwing the easy softball out there first... are you on windows XP or Vista/7/8?

DERP.

Yeah, XP. Service Pack 3.

There's your problem. XCOM requires vista or newer.

I've been bitten by that surprise snake a couple times myself. But now my new machine is on 7. So I don't have to overstress my laptop trying to play them any more.

It can be run on XP, but it takes a little doing. Instructions for it are here

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2964408

THANK. YOU.

As soon as I get back, I'll unfuck it. You guys rock.

Officer_Charon said:

THANK. YOU.

As soon as I get back, I'll unfuck it. You guys rock.

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On further reflection, it might be more worth my while to just pick up a copy of Win7. Holy Christ.

Officer_Charon said:

On further reflection, it might be more worth my while to just pick up a copy of Win7. Holy Christ.

Click to expand...

It's probably a good idea.

Yeah. Lotta games (and other things) these days bumping up against the 2GB limit imposed by (ordinary) XP.
April will be here soon, then it'll be official.

--Patrick

With that being said... would it be better for me to invest in Win7 or 8.1?

Officer_Charon said:

With that being said... would it be better for me to invest in Win7 or 8.1?

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Personally, I do not like Windows 8 - not having the Start Menu is really a put off for me. I have to support it (I work in tech support and admin our remote user software (Citrix)), but I don't like it. If you do have to run it, I'd say install Classic Shell - http://www.classicshell.net/ - it puts the Start Menu back and makes IE (if you use it) act like Win 7 did.

If it was me, I'd get Win 7.

I'd go with Win7. Thus far 8 seems to be another ME/Vista skippable edition, while 7 has been nearly as reliable as XP was to me.

Unless you're on very little RAM, don't forget to get the 64 bit version, though!

Win 8 isn't that bad once you get used to it. I suppose it helps that I didn't really use the start menu in 7 anyways. Hit the start key and start typing the name of the program you want. It's a whole hell of a lot quicker than trying to weed through all the sub menus in a start menu. Once you reorganize the tiles in the win 8 start menu to something you'd actually use, it's even easier.

They've fixed most of the issues with 8 (rather 8.1), but I don't like rewarding people for bad decisions, and there was no reason to come out with 8 when 7 should have been perfectly viable for the next 10 years. I'd say get whichever one you can get for cheaper. I got 7 for my new box, but if I'd found 8 for less than $86 (what I found 7 professional for) I probably would have got it instead.

This might help you make your decisions.

Win7 - Familiar interface, has the ability to emulate WinXP (via an embedded VirtualPC VM) for non-3D applications (i.e., probably not for gaming) if you purchase the professional edition or above.
Win8.1 - (there was no Win8, there is only Win8.1) newer, more confusing interface BUT new licensing model means that you can do something you couldn't do with Win7 and previous: If you purchase the OEM version of Win8.1, you are allowed to move it to a new machine, provided that you are the owner and operator of the new machine (and remove it from the old). Previous versions of Windows would force you to purchase a new OEM copy for your new machine.

Testing shows Win8.x is actually slightly faster than Win7 in gaming, if that also helps. Also, Win8 will no doubt be supported for longer.
Personally, Win8 is making a good case for being your next OS, even if it means steeling yourself for the new interface.
I will be using Win7 on my machine, though...but I am doing so specifically for all that backward compatibility capability I will get (and the fact that I already own a copy). We will see whether my next machine earns Win8 or Win9.

--Patrick