The Dink Network

Hi folks,

I'm new to playing DMODs having just recently found the Dink Smallwood game and completeing it.

I'm like a turn key driver when it comes to computers. If it runs when I push go great otherwise I'm not a programer or IT type who can diagnose his own system.

I'm running into a lot of problems with DMODs like Birth of an Empire, As Good As Eternity and The legend of Terjin.

Music, I get music on the full version game and DMODS maybe 1 out of 5 times I play. If I have music at the title screen I will in the game. Only the music is like this I always get the sound effects.

Title screens do not load correctly about half the time I get a partial title screen with no new game, load icons ect. If I move the mouse around I hear them click and with Legend of Terjin I can start and load games even though I can't see the icons.

Playing Terjin I can go and pick up all three logs but can't give them to mom. When I go back with them she keeps saying 3 logs should do it. The logs also do not show in my inventory list.

In almost as good as Eternity with the fists armed Dink changes into the Goblin from birth of an Empire when I attack. Initially purchased swords and potions did not show up in my inventory even though gold was deducted from my total.

I restarted the game at some point maybe a few tries then items started to show on my inventory. while the game played fine to the end Dink always changed to the Goblin when attacking in fist mode.

I'm running windows 98 on a 350 AMD K2-6, 192 ram and an ATI rage pro, not a great card but the video graphics are fine.

Any advice out there?

Dave

Well alot of times d-mod just have bugs in them, but a couple of those problems, messed up title screens and maybe the music coudl be cause be unzipping the d-mod wrong. Once extracted from the zip file, the d-mod should consist of a folder named after the d-mod in the main folder, and inside that, folders named Graphics, Story, Tiles and Sound (some d-mods may not have all of those) and some files such as map.dat and hard.dat. Sometimes the author will include the outter folder, but usually not.

So one thing to check is that the d-mods are installed like that, an extra folder layer is a common mistake. Another possible mistake is extracting the whole mess into one folder, that happens if you don't check the right option in WinZip. I think it's "Use folder names".

: Well alot of times d-mod just have bugs in them, but a couple of those problems, messed up title screens and maybe the music coudl be cause be unzipping the d-mod wrong. Once extracted from the zip file, the d-mod should consist of a folder named after the d-mod in the main folder, and inside that, folders named Graphics, Story, Tiles and Sound (some d-mods may not have all of those) and some files such as map.dat and hard.dat. Sometimes the author will include the outter folder, but usually not.

: So one thing to check is that the d-mods are installed like that, an extra folder layer is a common mistake. Another possible mistake is extracting the whole mess into one folder, that happens if you don't check the right option in WinZip. I think it's "Use folder names".

Oh, yeah, and as a second solution for you sound problems, when there is no sound, try to restart the game. Works for me.

: : Once extracted from the zip file, the d-mod should consist of a folder named after the d-mod in the main folder, and inside that, folders named Graphics, Story, Tiles and Sound (some d-mods may not have all of those) and some files such as map.dat and hard.dat. Sometimes the author will include the outter folder, but usually not.

: : So one thing to check is that the d-mods are installed like that, an extra folder layer is a common mistake. Another possible mistake is extracting the whole mess into one folder, that happens if you don't check the right option in WinZip. I think it's "Use folder names".

: Oh, yeah, and as a second solution for you sound problems, when there is no sound, try to restart the game. Works for me.

:::Thanks for the tips so far, I've followed the steps on the Dink network help page as far as I can tell.

I didn't see on the help page wheteher I should click the open file box or save box when starting the down load. I've been clicking open file which starts Winzip and then I've followed the steps on the help page.

When I do this it saves to Dink/program files. when I open the front to play DMODs the latest DMOD has replaced whatever was in the DMOD front drop down list. My drop down list will only retain 3 items, the Mystery Island DMOD that comes with the Dink download, Edit and the lates DMOD downloaded.

As good as eternity's title page worked fine. Restarting sometimes got me music sometimes not. I played through once to magic valley, although I collected all the scroll never showed up on my inventory in that first round.

The second time it did show on my inventory and then everything else did as well.

In Tejin there is no sound when I pick up the 3 logs and they do not show on my inventory. Should they? I tried talking to everyone first and buying a wizard doll, I also killed all bugs I could. I could not deliver the logs to mom.

Then I tried just doing the things instructed by the mom, no killing ect. just went out and got the logs. Still can't give them to mom. Have I missed something in the game or is this a problem with the game?

Dave

About LOT - there are a number of items which don't show up in the inventory... not sure if the logs are one of them... but if not I think Dink says something when he picks them up... once you get to three I think Mother reacts differently. That's not happening... check the walkthru... Hope that helps

I think you would be better if you save them and open them afterwards. That way, if nothing else, you can try extracting them again without re-downloading them if it doesn't work right at first.