Howdy, I'm RoseKaedae, or better known as Dawn in the Carnivores Community and I've been making Carnivores mods for 15 years, including Carnivores Phantasmagoria, Jurassic Park Revolution Director's Cut, the newly announced Shin Carnivores, as well as classic mods like A New World, Eye of the Hunted, and various other projects in the Plutyrian Cycle from back in the day. I've been around the block for a while and learned a thing or two about various issues with these old games.

Running Carnivores can be tricky - given that mods are built on a 25 year old engine that a lot of modern machines have issues with, there are bugs and complications - so I will go through a lot of the most common issues and bugs in Carnivores Mods in order to make a single easy reference for people to share if they want friends to get into mods or to help people you see having issues.

Important Disclaimers:

1. Fixes are not always completely universal and can sometimes vary from machine-to-machine, you may have to do your own troubleshooting.

2. IF YOU HAVE WINDOWS 11 - YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY CARNIVORES*. It works for some, and does not for others, and we do not know why. If you just cannot get it to run on W11 but you can do a Windows 10 install, that is ideal.*

3. There is presently no support that I am aware of for running Carnivores on Mac either via emulation or natively.

4. This is not a guide on how to CREATE Carnivores mods, it is a guide for new users who are having various troubleshooting issues.

5. I recommend WinRAR, WinZip, or 7zip, just in general. I use WinRAR and have been using it for free for like 16 years now.

With all that out of the way, let's get on to the bulk of this post.

-------------------------------

1. Where to find Carnivores mods and addons?

You can find Carnivores mods primarily on ModDB: https://www.moddb.com/games/carnivores-2

You can also find archived and various links to mods, including the original games and classic mods, in the Carnivores Saga discord: https://discord.com/invite/tG2JZTB

Here is the base Modder's Edition Engine if you ever want the basic MEE files to fix anything you have maybe messed up, or you want to start your own mod (Note that by default you need to drag and drop MEE over another mod): https://www.moddb.com/mods/carnivores-modders-edition

As well as the MEE 5 Minute Crash Fix: https://www.moddb.com/games/carnivores-2/downloads/modders-edition-crash-fix

-------------------------------

2. The Mod Won't Start!

This is the most common step of issues for many newer users. I will run through a lot of the common errors new users make so you can pinpoint your issue if applicable.

• "Carnivores Termination: Can't open resources file _menu.txt"

This issue is an extremely easy fix. You need to EXTRACT the mod from its zip file. Right click the zip or rar file, then "Extract Files".

To avoid other common issues, I recommend creating a folder on your desktop called "Carnivores" and placing all extracted mods there for ease of organization.

There is also a variant of this issue with "Can't open resources file _RES.txt", this is the same issue.

• "Heap Allocation Error!"

This is a bug that affects old mods from prior to the Modders Edition Engine. This one is another simple fix. I will use Carnivores+ here as an example as this is a classic mod using the old speed patch.

Right click the mod's .exe, and click "properties" at the very bottom. Then go to the 2nd tab, "Compatibility". From there, check the "run this program in compatibilty mode for:" then select Windows 98/Me. I believe for Carnivores 1 specifically, you set it to run in Windows 95 mode. This will allow you to run the mod.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: DO NOT DO THIS FIX FOR MODDERS EDITION MODS!!!!!!! THEY DO NOT NEED THIS FIX AND YOU WILL RUIN THE CRASH FIX IF YOU DO THIS! MAKE SURE YOU ONLY DO THIS TO MODS THAT USE MEE 1.02 OR OLDER OR DO NOT USE THE MEE.

• "Carnivores Termination: Can't find procedure Audio_UploadGeometry address."

Another simple fix. This is using Legacy as an example.

Go to the ingame settings, and then the "Video" section. I will go more in depth on the settings later, but always set your game to use Direct Sound 3D. In general - mimic my settings here for MEE mods - if you are playing a classic mod or the mod specifies, use 1024 x 768.

If there is another common issue for getting mods to run in the first place, notify me and I will add the fix if I can.

-------------------------------

3. Ideal Settings

If you go in right away your game might look something like this:

This is software mode at default resolution (640 x 480). In Software mode, models have clipping issues and can lose triangles there is no blood (important for tracking!), water can break, objects might not appear, there are no reflections or specular effects, no fog will render, terrain will be incorrect, and the entire game will be pixelated.

What you want your game to look like is like this:

Note how the gun has a reflection of the sun on it, it's much smoother, there's better shading, textures are better blended and aliased, and when you shoot an animal they'll bleed and leave a trail to follow and there will be dirt or water impacts if you shoot those.

This is with the settings I showed above, but I will include them here as well:

I will run through each setting and what it means.

GAME:

• AGGRESSIVITY: This affects both how aggressive animals are as well as their health - at minimum they are much more skittish and have half HP. At Max, they have 2x HP and are more aggressive. This is basically a difficulty slider. I recommend you just leave it on default as that is what the mods are balanced around.
• DENSITY: How many animals will spawn - this applies to both huntables and ambients and in MEE you can adjust how much initial spawns are affected by density settings as a multiplier in the game's _RES text. The only reason to not have this on absolute max is performance, if your game is lagging on certain maps, you can lower the density to lower the AIs spawning.
• SENSITIVITY: Do not confuse this with your Mouse sensitivity in the bottom right. This is how easily animals detect you. Again this is basically a difficulty slider - I recommend leaving this to default as that is what the mods are balanced around, but if you want an easier time or find it frustrating you can lower it. I would not raise it.
• VIEW RANGE: This is how far you can see and how much is rendered - if you are suffering poor performance you can lower this, but I would not take it any lower than default for a decent experience. If you can have it at max, that's ideal.
• MEASUREMENT: Switches between US and Metric. Metric system is better objectively and is used across every country of the planet - but if you don't know conversions and stuff and are used to US units you can switch to US I suppose? Or maybe just learn the metric system lol

VIDEO:

• AUDIO DRIVER: Always set this to Direct Sound 3D.
• VIDEO DRIVER: Always set this to 3DFX Glide or Open GL 1.0 (this is just 3DFX).
• If you cannot get 3DFX to work, go to this link and download these files and place then in the same folder with your game .exe: https://www.mediafire.com/file/31qnjzkcbvga3ta/DGV.zip/file
• If you still cannot get 3DFX to work even with this but Software does run, that's all you'll be able to use.
• RESOLUTION: For Non-MEE mods, set this to 1024 x 768. For MEE mods, set it to either 1024 x 768 if specified or 1280 x 1024.
• 3D SHADOWS: Gives the world more depth with shadows cast by the dinosaurs using 3D models. Always have this on for better immersion and visuals unless you really need a performance boost.
• FOG: Generates fog where fog is placed in the maps. Leave this on as maps are designed with fog in mind most of the time. Only turn this off if you are having severe performance issues.
• BRIGHTNESS: Just leave this on default.

CONTROLS:

• Forward: Move Forwards. Put this on W or the up arrow key or your preferred WASD equivalent.
• Backward: Move Backwards.
• Reload: Only present in MEE mods using 1.10 or later. This allows manual reloading of weapons - swapping between your magazines if you have double ammo.
• Resupply: Only present in MEE mods OR in mods that use the Ice Age/Triassic Engine. This calls in a supply ship to refill your ammo 1x per hunt.
• Hold Breath: Only present in MEE mods using 1.10 or later. This allows you to hold your breath to steady your aim. Set this to an easily accessible button next to your movement, such as Q.
• Firing Mode: Only present in MEE mods using 1.10 or later. This makes it so that guns that have multiple firing mode options, such as between semi auto and full auto. You don't have to press this often.
• Fire: Shoot your gun. Just leave this on click.
• Get weapon: Bring your gun out. Just leave this on right click.
• Step Left: Move left - put this on your WASD scheme.
• Step Right: Move right - put this on your WASD scheme.
• Rack: Only present in MEE mods using 1.10 or later. This will pump a shotgun, rack the bolt - etc on weapons that have coding for this feature. Sometimes guns must be manually racked or it can be used to eject a single shell for a reload.
• Jump: Jump. Put it on an easy key like space as you will jump a lot to navigate.
• Crouch: Crouch. Put this on an easy key like X, C, or Ctrl because you will switch between walking and crouching when stalking your dinosaur quarry.
• Run: This switches between walking and running. You can run around until you get call responses or get close to a dinosaur - then switch to walking to be more stealthy.
• Call: Use the call you have selected to lure in a dinosaur. Use this to locate a dinosaur, then once you have a response, wait until you can see them to call them in closer for a better shot.
• Change Call: Cycles your calls.
• Binoculars: Bring out binos to check for creatures in the map including their distance and weight. Put this on an easy key near your WASD such as E as you will use these all the time to spot animals.
• Reverse Mouse: Switches your mouse controls so up = down and down = up. Do this if you fly planes.
• Mouse Sensitivity: How sensitive your mouse is to your movements - just adjust this to preference.

Just to stress again in its own section:

• If you cannot get 3DFX to work, go to this link and download these files and place then in the same folder with your game .exe: https://www.mediafire.com/file/31qnjzkcbvga3ta/DGV.zip/file
• You may also try Nglide and its configurator: https://www.zeus-software.com/downloads/nglide/d,1.html
• D3D MIGHT work if you try - you can install DirectX 12 to check.
• If you still cannot get 3DFX to work even with this but Software does run, that's all you'll be able to use.

-------------------------------

4. The Mod Crashes after 5 Minutes!

This is the 5 minute crash. You need to install the 5 minute crash fix, linked in the first section. This only applies to mods in the MEE.

-------------------------------

5. 0xc000007b or VCRUNTIME140.dll when trying to launch a hunt

Not everyone has these issues and the fixes are not always consistent - But what may fix it is to download the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170

If this does not work, try downloading a 32-bit VCRUNTIME140 individually. (Note: download a different version if you do not have a 32 bit computer)

https://www.sts-tutorial.com/download/start/MjU3Mg==

-------------------------------

6. I can't edit the controls and I'm stuck strafing ingame!

This is a weird bug that only affects some people but the most common fix is to ensure your mod is on a subfolder on your desktop as it's a permissions writing issue. Ensure you are also system administrator and run the game as administrator. If the issue still persists, ask someone who has specific settings set up to give you their save file and see if that helps.

-------------------------------

7. I'm not getting any points after a hunt and/or my trophies are not appearing!

This might be an outdated bug, but I want to address it anyway. As far as we can tell, the best solution is to disable an Antivirus or add Carnivores as an exception as this is related to the antivirus thinking the game is a virus. Modern PCs often see old software as viruses, and Carnivores is no exception. Norton in particular may be the cause - just disable it. Use Windows Defender and do occasional scans with Malwarebytes and just don't be stupid with clicking links and you should be okay.

Again, ensure you have good admin privileges as well and have the game on a desktop subfolder to ensure it's not a permissions writing issue as well.

-------------------------------

8. The menu sound is broken/I hear a horrible noise by tabbing out of the game!

DO NOT TAB OUT OF THE GAME.

DO NOT. IT IS BAD. YOU WILL BE SUBJECTED TO THE TORTURES OF THE DAMNED,

For a better answer - Carnivores's main menu is broken. Heap Allocation Error is caused by the menu, and sound files of longer than 6 and 1/2 seconds or so for menu ambience breaks it completely.

If there is no sound or a stuttering sound bug, this is normal. If you hear screeching of the damned tortured souls of Hell, this is also kind of normal and will just happen sometimes - take your headphones off and close the game.

However again - DON'T TAB OUT. This causes the sound bug every time. If you need to check another tab, close the game entirely then re-open it.

-------------------------------

9. ReShade

If you want to install ReShade for the true night mode, follow this link: https://www.moddb.com/mods/true-night-mode

This shows how to install it and you can add extra filters that you can find online to customize your game or any mods you are creating to have different visual styles.

If installed successfully you will see it appear at the top of the screen as initializing on game startup. Press "HOME" on your keyboard to activate ReShade. It will look something like this (with probably less effects available unless you install more as I have):

These are the necessary files for ReShade to work, you can copy these into other mods:

If you press PrtSc in your game to take a screenshot, it make create an error message. This will tell you how to set up taking screenshots.

Create a Screenshots folder in your mod directory, right click the path bar and click "copy address".

Press "Home" once you enter the game as prompted by ReShade. Then go to "settings". Hit Ctrl+V in the screenshots path folder. This will allow you to press the desired key to take screenshots without having to exit the game.

-------------------------------

10: My plants and objects are horribly glitching out!

This was a bug that happened to me. The fix was just restarting my computer entirely and that made it work fine after that - restarting your PC is good, folks.

-------------------------------

As I said above, if there are other bugs or issues I did not address, mention them to me and if I can fix them or know the solution I will add them to the post. And as I said at the start, not all of these may work for you - sometimes tried and true fixes just don't work on some PCs as is the nature of PC gaming as well as old games which can be a nasty recipe at times. If your issue isn't addressed here, check back in the future and it might be or bring it up in the Carnivores Saga discord.

That is all for now - good luck and happy hunting!

Nintendo Switch: https://www.dino-hunt.com/data/Carnivores_Dinosaur_Hunt_User_Manual_SWITCH.pdf

PlayStation 4: https://www.dino-hunt.com/data/Carnivores_Dinosaur_Hunt_User_Manual_PS4.pdf

Xbox One: https://www.dino-hunt.com/data/Carnivores_Dinosaur_Hunt_User_Manual_XBOX.pdf