Wednesday 21 March 2007

Civilization III Conquests/Gold "Code 28 Error" FIXED

If you found this, you're probably having the same problem I've just had, installing Civilization 3 with the Conquests update, the latest patches, and then being unable to play it because of an error message: "Error loading font. Code 28".

I've read many solutions to this problem, and the most ridiculous one, and the "official" one put forward by Atari/Infrogrammes is to delete all Lucida Sans font files from your Windows/Fonts folder! Unbelievable that this could ever be considered a "solution".

Update: This solution works with Civilization 3 GOLD, too! (Thanks to 'gravegoul' for the tip!)

The REAL solution to the Civ3 Code 28 error is this:

  1. Go to your Civilization III folder on your harddrive (mine is 'C:\Program Files\Infogrames Interactive', for example. Yours could be 'C:\Program Files\Sid Mier's Civilization III', for example.)
  2. Next, go into the Conquests\ folder and look for a file named LSANS.FOT (not LSANS.TTF!)
  3. Rename the file LSANS.FOT to _LSANS.FOT (or indeed, anything you like, so long as it isn't LSANS.FOT!)
  4. You can now play Civ 3 Conquests, on ME, XP, Vista, Windows 7, whatever!
If you're wondering what the problem was, here's an explanation: Within the LSANS.FOT file is instructions for Civilization to load the LSANS.TTF (the LucidaSans font file) from "C:\BreakAway\Civ3\Conquests\LSANS.TTF", and if the file isn't there, the game won't load. Of course, this isn't even the default path for the game, so why Breakaway games should include this file with their patch is beyond me. But they did.

By removing the LSANS.FOT file (or by simply renaming it) the game simply looks for the font file elsewhere, and finds it!

I wanted to post this on a Civ3 forum somewhere, but I couldn't find an active thread about the problem, so at least here it should be here for good. Hope it helps somebody!

BONUS!

Play Civilization 3 in widescreen/high-resolution

To play Civ III in your monitor's native resolution (so the game looks better) simply add the following line to the bottom of your Conquest.ini file:

KeepRes=1

Where do you find your conquest.ini file?
If you're on XP or running Vista/Windows 7 without UAC enabled, then you'll find it in your Civilization III folder (see above). If you're running Vista/Windows 7 with UAC enabled (which you should be, if you're using those operating systems) you'll find it in:
C:\Users\[YOUR USERNAME]\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\Infogrames Interactive\Civilization III\Conquests

Enjoy!

216 comments:

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fabelaktig said...

Fantastic man!
Thanx for the error 28 fix :)

Tried to fix the resolution also, but the pc denies me to save the changes to the ini file. I have tried to change the .ini file in word pad and notepad. Both programs denies me to save changes - and yes, I am the admin. And running win7

Love,

Polat2011 said...

you are a STAR did what you said and it worked thank you so much :))

a korean said...

I have tried to rename or delete the .fot file many times, but it reappears (or is reinstalled) every sigle time when I open conquest.ext to play whatsoever.. It's so frustrating.

I know your post is over 5 years old, but if you still check the comments, please tell me what I can do.

I use Windows7 on English, but my Civ3 is in Korean.

Johnny Walker said...

Are you sure you have Administrator access? It's impossible for the game to be replacing the file. It's more likely that it was never deleted in the first place.

Finally, the game is run by double clicking "Civ3Conquests.exe", not "conquests.ext".

(And you WERE getting the Error Code 28, right?)

Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Looks like you get this a lot, but thank you.

Anonymous said...

"köszönöm" from hungary. you earned my respect

Anonymous said...

Un Grand Merci de Paris - A Great Thanks from Paris!

Myself and My kid come enjoy again this nice game thank's to you!!!

Anonymous said...

Wow.. had this game for years and this is the first time I've had the problem installing it on a new drive! Thankyou! :)

Nancy said...

I have Civilization 3 complete and Windows 8. I have played Civilization for years. All of a sudden I am getting the error code 28. I tried looking for the lsans.fot file, but all I can find is the lsans.ttf. I even did a search thru the Civilization folder. It found the lsans.ttf under the main folder, under Conquests, and under PTW. But no lsans.fot. Any suggestions?

Johnny Walker said...

Hi Nancy, I'm sorry to say that unless you're getting the error message "Error loading font. Code 28" then it's not a font issue (and so looking for the .fot file will not fix anything).

Have you tried reinstalling the game, perhaps?

Sorry I can't be more help. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

I dub thee Wizard.
Cant say the same for your resolution fix though. Just made it look all squeezed up and smaller figures

Unknown said...

it worked perfectly!! thanks a lot man! i cant believe its just a little thing like that fk windows

Anonymous said...

I have the Civilization 3 Complete. Used to work on my old Vista system. I got a new Windows 10 and the Civ 3 worked except after winning, when the game froze instead of showing the victory screens.
So I installed Civ Conquests too. Now the game wouldn't load at all due to the font error. Your fix now solves everything - victory and loading bugs.
Bottom line - game still fun, works on Windows 10 with fixes as above.

Anonymous said...

Want to place Civ 3 on my laptop running Win 10. is there a fix for the resolution?

Anonymous said...

I can't find the LSANS.FOT file; All I see is the LSANS.TTF

Any suggestions on what to do?

Jeff said...

I've had Civ III Complete on my laptop for 5 years. This morning it gave the "Error Loading Font (Error Code:28)". I just play, ya know. I had never even browsed through the folders from the main menu screen... until a few days ago. I navigated to (if I remember correctly) Preferences-> In Game Preferences(?) and may have changed a resolution setting???? Seems like that was the one. And, nothing else that I can remember. Played for a couple of days and now getting the Error Loading Font (Error Code:28) message when trying to load the game. WTF???? I am only finding the TTF file, not the FOT. Not sure if I can find the freakin disc, now, either. Pleeeease, can you help??
TIA, Jeff

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