"Video initialisation error" - possibly OS related?

[The Book]

It is only recently that I changed my operation system from WinNT (which forced me to use one of the eariler versions of the AGS) to XP. Everything worked fine, till I decided to put videos in my game - instead of playing the video, game displayed "Video initialisation error: InitRenderToSurface failed" message. The videos, composed in Blender and exported in Windows Media Video 9 codec worked well under WinNT. Does it mean AGS games don't display avi videos when run from XP? Or is it only problem with earlier versions of AGS and the soultion is to switch to a new version?

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Well, it's certainly not simply an XP issue - with XP pro I can run AVIs, no problems.

I wish I could be more help, but I can't. Mind you, always be sure to give whatever version is the latest a go.

[Pumaman]

Can you play the AVIs in media player?

[The Book]

Pumaman: The funny thing is that - yes, I was able to play this avi with Windows Media Player after OS change.

I tried to compile and run the project with AGS 2.61, and the video still refused to play. My attempt to export the same animation in DivX codec yelded rather bizzare result - the game was minimised when video started (I HAVE the DivX codec installed).

I believe I should try to convert the existing animations using some AGS-friendly codec...  The problem is I don't know which codecs are AGS-friendly.  Nor do I know of any software that would allow the conversion.

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Actually, I think all codecs which are WMP friendly are AGS friendly... DivX certainly had no problems for me.

2.61? Try 2.7, to be sure. Again, it's not likely the codecs themselves are to blame.

[Ishmael]

I recall something being discussed conciderthing this kind of matters, but I'm not sure was there ever a solutions found... Update your graphics card drivers, for starts...

[Mr Flibble]

If you have the plain DivX codec it seems to work, but if you have that gods damned player bundle the screen kinda goes yellow and crashes.
That was my experience anyway.

[Pumaman]

Have you got the latest version of DirectX installed?

[The Book]

Problem solved - I just discovered AGS can handle Intel Indeo codec.

[Ishmael]

AGS can handle whatever your computer can handle. As AGS doesn't play the vidoes, the installed player and codecs do. AGS just makes the call... (Right?)