Bioshock Error

Hey everyone,
I just purchased Bioshock this evening. I have not yet received my laptop from XoticPC yet, so I figured that I would try a few minuted of it on my desktop PC just to see how it is.
I installed it and everything when alright. I restarted my computer and when it rebooted I tried to open the game. It started to work, the little box with "bioshock" popped up, and there is a black screen that comes up for about one or two seconds then the game crashed and I get a choice to submit an error report or not. It does not say what went wrong at all.

This computer is about 2 years old, and maybe it just cannot run the game well, but that should not mean that it wont even show a menu. It has a Pentium 4 and some ATI GPU but I forget which one and don't remember how to check it easily.

Can anyone think of why the game crashes? I am running windows XP by the way.

Thanks in advance

 

I had a computer like yours, and yeah Bioshock DID crash everytime I tried to open it. (pentium 4, 3.0ghz and ati radeon 9200)

 

The video card does not support everything the game needs, which is likely why it is crashing for you. You can look up the Shader Model 2.0 Fix and try that, but it won't be pretty. Bioshock is an AMAZING game. I suggest waiting to get the full experience

 

I think I will do just that. My laptop should be able to max it out (or close to it) and it will be here sometime in the next 4 or 5 days. I can wait that long I'm sure.

 

To check your basic specs you can go to Control Panel > System. Might help if we know a bit more about your PC.

 

I heard and read all the hype about Bioshock so when it was posted in the forums that Bioshock was on sale for $15 on steam I bought it. I have a Toshiba X205sli1 and it can run the game at max settings at 30-60 fps. I haven't gotten really deep into the game because I just don't feel it. I mean it does seem like the same enemies over and over and when you do get into a battle it just doesn't feel satisfying like Call of Duty 4. I haven't gotten much in the way of weapons, the most powerful weapon I've gotten to is the tommy machine gun but like I said it just doesn't feel satisfying. I stopped playing it the 3rd day, but everytime I come to this forums I read people raving about it and then I want to go play again but have to choose between playing COD4 or that and since I'm very busy I don't have much time even on my day of so I always just go for COD4. I don't know what I don't get about Bioshock that all the enthusiastic posts from users get. I also game using a gaming mouse and Belkin nostromo n52te combo and maybe it's because I steam doesn't supply a gaming manual were I can look at the controls when I'm playing so as to get familiar with it. Probably that would help my experience and get me into the game more.

 

What does this have to do with the OP's error? (OP: your card probably does not support 3.0 shaders, and even the 2.0 shader fix will only result in Bioshock running like molasses. Stay put and wait for your laptop)

Anyway, Bioshock's about the storyline & world (generally), not about what kind of big gun you can collect, so it's pretty far from Call of Duty.

 

Ok I spoke to early. I didn't get into Bioshock and I had high expectations from the beginning, but reading the wiki on Bioshock and how the predecessors go back to system shock and all, I started trying to focus more on the story line and play in more as a first person roleplaying game i.e saving ammo, not trying to get spotted. Any way when I started acting more stealthy and conserving ammo the game started getting compelling and the combat more satisfying. I'm starting to dig this game. And as far as what my posts have to do with the original poster, well he seemed really enthusiastic about this game and since I have it and played it just a bit I thought I would give my first impressions but you know the saying "second thoughts are wiser".

 

I've been playing it the way I used to play Doom... Collect everything you can, search everywhere and don't get seen if you can help it.

BTW, I've also found that the shotgun is the best weapon... 4 electric Bucks kill big daddys... shock them first though lol

It can be a very immersive game and you will lose hours playing it...

OB

 

yeah I just got the shotgun and the telekinesis power so now the games opening up and I'm starting to pay attention to the story. I also saw on youtube a Bioshock movie in theatres, anyone watch it?

 

I love this game
I can play it on my p4 3.4ghz/7600 GS/1gb ram desktop, on medium/high settings (finished it )
I will play it maxed out on my new lappy soon...
PS - my favorite is the exploding buck, much more satisfying and insect swarm as plasmid