Question / Help Streaming Older Games [Solved]

[Burylown]

I've looked through several topics and couldn't really find the one working for me, so I figured I'd make an account and ask myself.

I'm trying to stream 3 old games, which none of them work. These games are old, keep in mind.
-Mall Tycoon 2
-School Tycoon
-Age of Empires 2

If I'm correct these are Dx7 games which is why they have neither windowed mode, or support for OBS. (If I read correctly OBS only supports Dx9.) As for a log file, I can't post one at the moment, but I don't think it would do any good regardless.:)

Problem:All of these games in fact show a black screen no matter what the settings. I'm pretty sure it's because they are not windowed.

Question: What would I have to do to at least get these games to not show a black screen on OBS?

 

[logoster]

Re: Streaming Older Games

have you tried adding it as a Window source instead of a game capture source? i play a game called simpsons hit and run, to get obs to stream/record it, i have to add it as a Window source, instead of game source

 

[Burylown]

Re: Streaming Older Games

Well, everytime I minimize the games it wont show up. And like I said, there's no way to get it into windowed mode to do that.

 

[dodgepong]

Re: Streaming Older Games

You're right, game capture doesn't work on DX8 and older games, so the only way to add them with OBS alone is by running the games in Windowed mode and using Window capture or monitor capture, if you can get them to run in Windowed mode. You could also try capturing with Dxtory, or get a capture card and do it that way.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can attempt to use Bl00drav3n's WIP DirectDraw capture plugin here: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=5770 But I'm not sure how well it will work...worth a shot, I suppose, if you don't want to spend money yet.

 

[Burylown]

Re: Streaming Older Games

So I wasn't actually able to figure out Dxtory. I was able to download the trial version and attempt to fanagle my way with it but in the end it just didn't work.

Any tips?

 

[dodgepong]

Re: Streaming Older Games

You have to set Dxtory to output to DirectShow, and set a capture hotkey. In OBS, you have to add a Video Capture device for Dxtory, and then when you run the game with Dxtory running, you should get an FPS indicator in the upper left. Then press your hotkey to start capturing the game, and then start recording with OBS.

 

[Burylown]

Re: Streaming Older Games

That was a very detailed answer. I'll try it!
--
So it worked! But the only issue is that big ass watermark in the center of my screen when I play the game and stream. Guess I'll have to buy a license, eh?

 

[CLASSICARL]

You cam also try alt-enter while you are in game. This is a universal hot-key that toggles fullscreen and windowed mode. I was also having the same trouble with an older game (namely - Splinter Cell). There are no options in-game to go to windowed, but alt-enter forced the game into a windowed mode, then I was able to capture with OBS window capture. Hope that helped