pauloparra
Member
Hmm, I could swear I posted this last night.
I download install fine but when I try to run it I get the error
Error: Acess violation at 0x781473BD (tried to read from 0x00000000) program terminated. The program runs fine before installation finishes and the "run the program now" check is on. After that, I can't run it at all. I also tried checking the "run the program now" switch, but the same problem happens
Re-try the install then uncheck the "run the program now" at the end of the install. Delete the icon on your desktop if you had one made, then go to the folder where you have installed the program (C:\programs ..for example)to find the GeBall.exe file, right click and move down to send ...icon to desktop. It will make a new icon. Double-click on that icon and see if the program tries to load.
pauloparra
Member
Thanks!
It worked like a charm. I actually was able to get it to run. Because I don't like icons on my desktop, I always opt out if I can. I installed it, let the game play at the end and exited. Running the program from the menu crashes it. So I uninstalled it again, installed it with the icon and ran the program as registration ended.
Played for a while, exited and closed the registration information window. I ran the game from the icon on the desktop and it worked fine! Checked both shortcuts and they are the same! I went to the program files directory and ran it from there and works fine.
My question is, Why are we given registration keys? I never had to use them. Did I miss something?
-Mario
If you don't register the program during the 24 hour give-away period then your new software will just be a time trial and you will be asked to buy it and it will no longer work after the trial expires.
You still have time to make sure that todays game is registered(if you want to keep it).
Register it, and it is yours to use until you lose it due to hard drive failure or computer failure etc.
Read the text file that was unzipped along with the program setup file. If it confuses you, check the comments under todays game give away... there are walk-throughs for this games' registration procedures.
This is a bit more confusing registration than usual. Until you are comfortable with the drill here, read the text file with every d\l. When you get more comfortable, you can probably skip the reading as you will automatically know when to back up and do it right:))
Bring your problems to the forum for faster answers if there are answers (or good guesses) to be had.
pauloparra
Member
Hi Idhal and thanks again for the your help.
I installed the game in a VMWare Workstation virtual computer I have which runs 3D games but not reliably. I just wanted to see how the registration process works on a computer that has never seen GeBall. As advertised, the first time I tried to play the game I was told that I was running a trial version that can either be played for 60 seconds (or something like that) or I could get the full version if I entered working registration name and key.
After the entries were filled using the given information the game "ran" (this one does not display using VMWare Workstation's 3D technology) as long as you used the Desktop icon or ran the executable directly. I could tell the game was running because I could hear the music, but I couldn't see the intro page.
At this point I thought I had all the information and the know-how to install the game, so I went back to my main computer and uninstalled everything GeBall using Cleanse Uninstaller which is pretty good at cleaning up after uninstallers. I re-downloaded the game from the GGOTD site, unzipped it, and installed it again. I knew what to do after installing, i.e., clear out the "run the program now" box and run the game from the desktop icon.
The first time I ran the game after a clean (or so I thought) installation I got no window asking for registration info or anything. The game started normally (I guess) and I played for about 10 mins, then I quit, I moved icons around to make the game run from the place I wanted to, ran it again and played for 15 minutes w/o a problem.
As for posting in the Forums and the Comments pages, I should tell you that I suffer an stress related illness which acts up whenever there is a deadline or I need to hurry to do something. I can't sit around and wait.
Either I do something about it or take tranquilizers which I try to avoid. I know it is no excuse, but I can't help it. I apologize to those who think that my behavior is not acceptable, but please understand that because of it I am completely unable to work, so this is serious stuff.
Back to the game, it seems that all is good which makes no sense to me. Perhaps the registration information is in the developers web page and the software checks online before it runs. Maybe the Uninstaller wasn't able to get rid of the registration information. I don't know.
I am going to assume I am fully registered and leave it at that. I am still afraid that something is wrong and tomorrow it won't run anymore. If that is the case, oh well, lose some win some.
I've been a GAOTDer for about a year and I have got my share of Arkanoid clones to keep me entertained for a while. I really wanted this one because I have read independent reviews of it and they all point that, as Arkanoid clones go, this is one of the best ones around.
Any information or suggestion would be really welcome. I can't find a way to check whether the game is fully registered or not. I got 4 hours left to find out for sure.
Thanks,
-Mario
pauloparra
Member
Hello,
Yes, I got to that page. Actually, I got to that page like 4 times from all the re-installations. Does that mean that I am registered? Somebody on the comment section said that when he ran it he was asked for a password and he didn't know what password that was so he left it blank and he claims the game ran fine.
It may be possible to get the program to run without activation, but I thought that there was a restriction like a 60 seconds game play or something like that.
One other thing is that if you visit the SheepArcade site which is provided after the installation, there is a message with big letters saying that GeBall is a free download. A free download may not mean a free game though.
Thanks you much
-Mario
pauloparra
Member
I guess getting to GGOTD's "GeBall activated - what next?" page means I am OK. It is going to become a moot point in a few minutes anyway.
ldahl, I could not have done it without your help. I owe you one.
-Mario
The password wasn't anything to worry about, it just runs the one time and then after that it's gone. No password was needed, just the name and serial number. If you've played the game a few times and closed it out and didn't get any kind of nag screen(like "buy now",or "register now")I think you may have gotten it registered. If not, there is a chance that it will be offered again at a later date.
I did try to figure out a way to test the software to insure that it was registered, but I really couldn't find a way to tell for sure. Usually the trials are for one level or 60 minutes and as you didn't notice any warning as such, we'll just keep our fingers crossed:)
A free download is not a free game...it is a free "download"... I hate it when they put that up. It means you don't get charged to download it, you pay if you want to keep it.
Which is fine and fair, but to use confusing terms to get people to try their games, is rather misleading. Lots of software companies do that,even the big ones. It just seems cheesy to me. It's like saying "New and Improved!!!" What? Was their product "Old and Rotten" before? :)))
pauloparra
Member
Well..,
If there was any doubt, it is gone now, I just played 4 levels of the game without any problems, but the funny thing is that the link that I created earlier to replace the bogus one gave me the same error.
Instead of creating a new one I went to the installation directory and ran it from it the executable itself. Kind of like when to access some files or other we had to use Norton Commander to navigate through the directories using the arrows and the return key. Ahh the simple good old times.
I also never found a way that told me I was running a registered game which is not uncommon for old games and using word games to trick people into buying is totally uncalled for. Later, after I read your post I thought, who sells computer games online that charge a fee for the download?
That is insane but yet, I had to think twice because everybody agrees on what a free downloads is. Like you said it is a cheap shot and scummy and as you progress through the game it starts to become overloaded with colors and shapes. It is playable, but not relaxing.
I am sorry for not doing my homework, but I am so sick of the comments section and it is such a waste of time... there should be a way to list the comments by things other than time, like, number of stars, length of post, alphabetical poster name and a few more.
ldahl I wanted to thank you for your help and your time. I hope I can return the favor some time in the future.
-Mario
Hey Mario, you are more than welcome, I just wish I could have been more of a help:)
I understand what you mean about the comment section, especially if there are a lot of comments and it is mostly people yelling about the software and other people yelling at them and the people who yellllll at the yelllllllers. If someone has a problem getting the game to work I wish they would come over here to the forums where someone might see their post in time to offer some help. There are times where no one has the answer to the problem but at least they wouldn't feel so ignored and frustrated. Bubby is great and tries to make sure everyone who really wants to get the programs has a fighting chance to do so. I don't think Bubby gets enough credit for the volunteer work that is put into this forum and the comments section.
You don't owe me a thing:) I was truly just hoping I could help you get the problem solved so you could keep the game if it was something you liked.
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