King's Quest 8 - Mask of Eternity - Windows 11 Compatibility

A compatibility fix for King's Quest 8: Mask of Eternity to run properly on Windows 11 with enhanced video playback support.

Project Background

This project is based on the original kqmoefix project found at: https://svn.nicode.net/kqmoefix/

The original project was designed to support KQ8 on Windows 10 and earlier versions, but required significant updates for Windows 11 compatibility, particularly for video playback functionality.

Key Improvements

1. Updated dgVoodoo Configuration: Properly configured dgVoodoo2 settings optimized for Windows 11 compatibility
2. Modernized Video Playback: Completely reworked video handling system that no longer relies on legacy MCI commands
3. Re-encoded Video Files: All video files have been re-encoded using H.264 format, which is natively supported by Windows 11
4. Enhanced Window Management: Improved window handling for both legacy Windows Media Player and Windows 11 UWP Media Player

Installation Instructions

Prerequisites

• King's Quest 8: Mask of Eternity (latest version 1.03 from GOG recommended)
• Windows 11

Installation Steps

1. Download the base game: Get the latest known KQ8 from GOG (version 1.03) and install it. Don't lanch the game yet!
2. Download the compatibility fix: Download the patch
3. Extract files: Extract the zip contents to your KQ8 game folder (overwrite all)
4. Run NO-CD Fix: Execute kqmoepfd.cmd to enable no CD.
5. Run the system fix: Run kq8fix.exe and check the box Mask.exe
6. Start playing: Launch the game (Mask.exe) and enjoy! (No need to set compatibility mode!)

Recommendations

Media Player Configuration

• Set default AVI player: Go to Settings → Default Apps and set Windows Media Player Legacy as the default AVI player
• Enable Legacy Media Player: If not available, enable it via Settings → Apps → Optional Features → Add a feature → Media features → Windows Media Player Legacy

Troubleshooting

• Mouse cursor issues: If using the new Windows 11 Media Player and the cursor becomes locked after video playback, click the mouse to release it
• VLC compatibility: VLC player works but may introduce noticeable latency during video playback
• Skip intro videos: To bypass intro videos, edit main.kq file and set aviPlayed=1
• DirectDraw of 3dfx: This patch was built for 3dfx, I noticed that other modes are not working good, in anycase - if you wish, you can remove the glide2x.dll file, and then you will play automatically in DirectDraw mode.
• Camera rotation lag in 3dfx: This is probably a known problem that has always been there. I recommend working with a resolution of 600X800. It worked better for me. As of now, I haven't found an ideal solution for this and I doubt it will ever be found. Anyone who finds it difficult can always switch to playing in DirectDraw mode.

Technical Details

This compatibility fix addresses several Windows 11-specific issues:

• Modern video codec support (H.264)
• UWP Media Player window management
• Enhanced window restoration after video playback
• Improved cursor handling for different media players

Contributing

Feel free to submit issues and enhancement requests. This project aims to preserve the classic King's Quest 8 experience on modern Windows systems.

License

This project maintains the same licensing as the original kqmoefix project. Please refer to the original source for license details.