Boosting memory allocation for Roller Coaster Tycoon 3

[Will T.]

From time to time I like to fire up Roller Coaster Tycoon 3, and I have a particularly large park full of custom, player-made scenery objects that I've been working on (think of this as the rough equivalent to custom skins/models in Source games). While my machine runs the game beautifully and never dips below 30FPS when displaying particularly visually-intense areas (it gets 60+ much of the time), it has an issue of crashing with the dreaded "RCT3.exe has stopped working" error when too much data is stored in the memory (i.e. when I have looked at too much of my park in a single session - it will not load an area of the park into the RAM until it is first made visible on-screen during that play session). This strikes me as odd, because my computer has 8GB of memory - well beyond the amount the game should need to run my park.

Today I started it up to perform an experiment: I opened the Task Manager and observed RCT3's memory usage throughout my session. The session was, of course, cut short by a crash. The final memory usage, and the peak the game reached, was ~1.75GB. My PC had 4GB of memory available on top of the combined total of RCT3 and all other processes (other processes amounted to just over 2GB). My conclusion is that this might possibly be a default cap at which RCT3 is not allowed to use more memory, probably to avoid overloading the memory of the system it's on - the game was released in 2005, after all, at a time when 2GB RAM was considered a large amount, and would have required 100% usage to run RCT3.

My question is this: Is there any way to allocate more memory to the game when it's running, so it doesn't overflow and give the "Stopped Working" error? Can I do so without compromising normal system operations? Or, am I possibly barking up the wrong tree here, and my problem lies somewhere else entirely? I've confirmed already that the problem isn't any of the custom content I have - I've tested each and every piece and confirmed them all not to be the source of the issue.

I'm running Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium, which I'm sure is important in finding the solution.

[metacide]

What does the event log say about the crash?

[Will T.]

What does the event log say about the crash?

I don't know what any of it means, but here's what the event viewer has listed for one of the crashes (I tried it several times):

VIEW CONTENT:

Faulting application name: RCT3plus.exe, version: 3.2.8.13, time stamp: 0x00000000
Faulting module name: RCT3plus.exe, version: 3.2.8.13, time stamp: 0x00000000
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x008a5a9d
Faulting process id: 0x19ec
Faulting application start time: 0x01cc607a42f788cc
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Atari\RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Platinum\RCT3plus.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Atari\RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Platinum\RCT3plus.exe
Report Id: 4cf15fc0-cc6e-11e0-a9a4-955fc3ed3d1b

Here's also a lengthy report file it created as "Report.wer":

VIEW CONTENT:

Version=1
EventType=APPCRASH
EventTime=129584574180489114
ReportType=2
Consent=1
UploadTime=129584574180969141
ReportIdentifier=0e094331-cc6f-11e0-a9a4-955fc3ed3d1b
IntegratorReportIdentifier=0e094330-cc6f-11e0-a9a4-955fc3ed3d1b
WOW64=1
Response.type=4
Sig[0].Name=Application Name
Sig[0].Value=RCT3plus.exe
Sig[1].Name=Application Version
Sig[1].Value=3.2.8.13
Sig[2].Name=Application Timestamp
Sig[2].Value=00000000
Sig[3].Name=Fault Module Name
Sig[3].Value=RCT3plus.exe
Sig[4].Name=Fault Module Version
Sig[4].Value=3.2.8.13
Sig[5].Name=Fault Module Timestamp
Sig[5].Value=00000000
Sig[6].Name=Exception Code
Sig[6].Value=c0000005
Sig[7].Name=Exception Offset
Sig[7].Value=00921b7e
DynamicSig[1].Name=OS Version
DynamicSig[1].Value=6.1.7601.2.1.0.768.3
DynamicSig[2].Name=Locale ID
DynamicSig[2].Value=1033
DynamicSig[22].Name=Additional Information 1
DynamicSig[22].Value=155c
DynamicSig[23].Name=Additional Information 2
DynamicSig[23].Value=155c713c8ecea7153e69cedefc2caee1
DynamicSig[24].Name=Additional Information 3
DynamicSig[24].Value=032d
DynamicSig[25].Name=Additional Information 4
DynamicSig[25].Value=032dd22b1876c6693af50376b57dcada
UI[2]=C:\Program Files (x86)\Atari\RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Platinum\RCT3plus.exe
UI[3]=RollerCoaster Tycoon® 3 has stopped working
UI[4]=Windows can check online for a solution to the problem.
UI[5]=Check online for a solution and close the program
UI[6]=Check online for a solution later and close the program
UI[7]=Close the program
LoadedModule[0]=C:\Program Files (x86)\Atari\RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Platinum\RCT3plus.exe
LoadedModule[1]=C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ntdll.dll
LoadedModule[2]=C:\Windows\syswow64\kernel32.dll
LoadedModule[3]=C:\Windows\syswow64\KERNELBASE.dll
LoadedModule[4]=C:\Windows\system32\version.dll
LoadedModule[5]=C:\Windows\syswow64\msvcrt.dll
LoadedModule[6]=C:\Windows\syswow64\imm32.dll
LoadedModule[7]=C:\Windows\syswow64\USER32.dll
LoadedModule[8]=C:\Windows\syswow64\GDI32.dll
LoadedModule[9]=C:\Windows\syswow64\LPK.dll
LoadedModule[10]=C:\Windows\syswow64\USP10.dll
LoadedModule[11]=C:\Windows\syswow64\ADVAPI32.dll
LoadedModule[12]=C:\Windows\SysWOW64\sechost.dll
LoadedModule[13]=C:\Windows\syswow64\RPCRT4.dll
LoadedModule[14]=C:\Windows\syswow64\SspiCli.dll
LoadedModule[15]=C:\Windows\syswow64\CRYPTBASE.dll
LoadedModule[16]=C:\Windows\syswow64\MSCTF.dll
LoadedModule[17]=C:\Windows\syswow64\shell32.dll
LoadedModule[18]=C:\Windows\syswow64\SHLWAPI.dll
LoadedModule[19]=C:\Windows\syswow64\ole32.dll
LoadedModule[20]=C:\Windows\system32\d3d9.dll
LoadedModule[21]=C:\Windows\system32\d3d8thk.dll
LoadedModule[22]=C:\Windows\system32\dwmapi.dll
LoadedModule[23]=C:\Windows\system32\dinput8.dll
LoadedModule[24]=C:\Windows\system32\dsound.dll
LoadedModule[25]=C:\Windows\system32\WINMM.dll
LoadedModule[26]=C:\Windows\system32\POWRPROF.dll
LoadedModule[27]=C:\Windows\syswow64\SETUPAPI.dll
LoadedModule[28]=C:\Windows\syswow64\CFGMGR32.dll
LoadedModule[29]=C:\Windows\syswow64\OLEAUT32.dll
LoadedModule[30]=C:\Windows\syswow64\DEVOBJ.dll
LoadedModule[31]=C:\Windows\system32\avifil32.dll
LoadedModule[32]=C:\Windows\system32\MSACM32.dll
LoadedModule[33]=C:\Windows\system32\MSVFW32.dll
LoadedModule[34]=C:\Windows\WinSxS\x86_microsoft.windows.common-controls_6595b64144ccf1df_5.82.7601.17514_none_ec83dffa859149af\COMCTL32.dll
LoadedModule[35]=C:\Windows\system32\apphelp.dll
LoadedModule[36]=C:\Windows\AppPatch\AcLayers.DLL
LoadedModule[37]=C:\Windows\system32\USERENV.dll
LoadedModule[38]=C:\Windows\system32\profapi.dll
LoadedModule[39]=C:\Windows\system32\WINSPOOL.DRV
LoadedModule[40]=C:\Windows\system32\MPR.dll
LoadedModule[41]=C:\Windows\AppPatch\AcGenral.DLL
LoadedModule[42]=C:\Windows\system32\UxTheme.dll
LoadedModule[43]=C:\Windows\system32\samcli.dll
LoadedModule[44]=C:\Windows\system32\sfc.dll
LoadedModule[45]=C:\Windows\system32\sfc_os.DLL
LoadedModule[46]=C:\Windows\syswow64\urlmon.dll
LoadedModule[47]=C:\Windows\syswow64\iertutil.dll
LoadedModule[48]=C:\Windows\syswow64\WININET.dll
LoadedModule[49]=C:\Windows\syswow64\Normaliz.dll
LoadedModule[50]=C:\Windows\AppPatch\AcXtrnal.DLL
LoadedModule[51]=C:\Windows\system32\SHUNIMPL.DLL
LoadedModule[52]=C:\Windows\system32\SortServer2003Compat.dll
LoadedModule[53]=C:\Windows\system32\CmdLineExt03.dll
LoadedModule[54]=C:\Windows\system32\DEVRTL.dll
LoadedModule[55]=C:\Windows\WinSxS\x86_microsoft.windows.common-controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.7601.17514_none_41e6975e2bd6f2b2\comctl32.dll
LoadedModule[56]=C:\Windows\syswow64\CLBCatQ.DLL
LoadedModule[57]=C:\Windows\system32\propsys.dll
LoadedModule[58]=C:\Windows\system32\ntmarta.dll
LoadedModule[59]=C:\Windows\syswow64\WLDAP32.dll
LoadedModule[60]=C:\Program Files (x86)\Atari\RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Platinum\m4d.dll
LoadedModule[61]=C:\Windows\syswow64\WS2_32.dll
LoadedModule[62]=C:\Windows\syswow64\NSI.dll
LoadedModule[63]=C:\Program Files (x86)\Atari\RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Platinum\MSVCR71.dll
LoadedModule[64]=C:\Windows\system32\CRYPTSP.dll
LoadedModule[65]=C:\Windows\system32\NLAapi.dll
LoadedModule[66]=C:\Windows\system32\napinsp.dll
LoadedModule[67]=C:\Windows\system32\pnrpnsp.dll
LoadedModule[68]=C:\Windows\System32\mswsock.dll
LoadedModule[69]=C:\Windows\system32\DNSAPI.dll
LoadedModule[70]=C:\Windows\System32\winrnr.dll
LoadedModule[71]=C:\Program Files (x86)\Bonjour\mdnsNSP.dll
LoadedModule[72]=C:\Windows\system32\Iphlpapi.DLL
LoadedModule[73]=C:\Windows\system32\WINNSI.DLL
LoadedModule[74]=C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WLIDNSP.DLL
LoadedModule[75]=C:\Windows\syswow64\PSAPI.DLL
LoadedModule[76]=C:\Windows\system32\rsaenh.dll
LoadedModule[77]=C:\Windows\system32\rasadhlp.dll
LoadedModule[78]=C:\Windows\system32\atiu9pag.dll
LoadedModule[79]=C:\Windows\system32\atiumdag.dll
LoadedModule[80]=C:\Windows\system32\atiumdva.dll
LoadedModule[81]=C:\Windows\system32\HID.DLL
LoadedModule[82]=C:\Windows\syswow64\WINTRUST.dll
LoadedModule[83]=C:\Windows\syswow64\CRYPT32.dll
LoadedModule[84]=C:\Windows\syswow64\MSASN1.dll
LoadedModule[85]=C:\Windows\System32\MMDevApi.dll
LoadedModule[86]=C:\Windows\system32\AUDIOSES.DLL
LoadedModule[87]=C:\Windows\SysWOW64\quartz.dll
LoadedModule[88]=C:\Windows\SysWOW64\qasf.dll
LoadedModule[89]=C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msdmo.dll
LoadedModule[90]=C:\Windows\system32\wmvcore.dll
LoadedModule[91]=C:\Windows\system32\WMASF.DLL
LoadedModule[92]=C:\Windows\WinSxS\x86_microsoft.windows.gdiplus_6595b64144ccf1df_1.1.7601.17514_none_72d18a4386696c80\gdiplus.dll
LoadedModule[93]=C:\Windows\system32\mlang.dll
LoadedModule[94]=C:\Windows\SysWOW64\devenum.dll
LoadedModule[95]=C:\Windows\system32\DShowRdpFilter.dll
LoadedModule[96]=C:\Windows\system32\WTSAPI32.dll
LoadedModule[97]=C:\Windows\system32\WINSTA.dll
LoadedModule[98]=C:\Windows\system32\slc.dll
LoadedModule[99]=C:\Windows\SysWOW64\WMADMOD.DLL
LoadedModule[100]=C:\Windows\system32\mfplat.DLL
LoadedModule[101]=C:\Windows\system32\AVRT.dll
LoadedModule[102]=C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Elements Organizer 8.0\CAHeadless\ad2mpgdmx.ax
LoadedModule[103]=C:\Windows\system32\wdmaud.drv
LoadedModule[104]=C:\Windows\system32\ksuser.dll
LoadedModule[105]=C:\Windows\system32\msacm32.drv
LoadedModule[106]=C:\Windows\system32\midimap.dll
LoadedModule[107]=C:\Windows\system32\DDRAW.dll
LoadedModule[108]=C:\Windows\system32\DCIMAN32.dll
LoadedModule[109]=C:\Windows\system32\D3DIM700.DLL
LoadedModule[110]=C:\Windows\SysWOW64\wmvdecod.dll
LoadedModule[111]=C:\Windows\SysWOW64\qedit.dll
LoadedModule[112]=C:\Windows\syswow64\COMDLG32.dll
FriendlyEventName=Stopped working
ConsentKey=APPCRASH
AppName=RollerCoaster Tycoon® 3
AppPath=C:\Program Files (x86)\Atari\RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Platinum\RCT3plus.exe

[metacide]

In Event Viewer there should be a warning or error log from the time of the crash. In that should be a listing for the Event Source and the Event ID. Do you know what those are?

[Will T.]

Event Source says "Application error," Event ID says "1000." I'm afraid I don't know what the number means, if that's what you're asking...

[metacide]

That is what I was asking for, sadly that is a super common error. The following are some of the 'solutions' suggested.

"This is a very generic error and it doesn't tell much about what caused it. Some applications may fail with this error when the system is left unstable by another faulty program. Usually, a reboot is recommended when this type of error is showing up. If the error is persistent, then one can start digging further (i.e. update the application that is listed in the event), install latest hotfixes, check for viruses and so on."

"This may also occur if the application is not compatible with the operating system. For example, trying to run games designed for Windows 9x/ME on Windows 2000/XP.

According to M967227, an application that uses the RPCRT4.dll module on a computer that is running Windows Vista SP1 or Windows Server 2008 may stop and generate this message. A hotfix is available from Microsoft."

If the last one is correct, it looks like RCT3 is just not fully compatible with Win7. Have you tried running it in compatibility mode?

[Will T.]

I thought of Compatibility Mode and did try it set to WinXP (I think this is what RCT3 was designed for), but it just caused it to crash much more quickly. While some things were faster, it made the existing problem much worse.

I've split the project I've been working on in the game into several files now, meaning that the game has to load much less for each file and shouldn't hit whatever ceiling it hits that causes it to crash on each individual file. So at least I can avoid the crashing issue for a bit that way.

[TACOBELL]

couple ideas from taco

try running in windowed mode instead of fullscreen (works with compatability issues with X64 bit systems from the old winXP 32 bits)

if that does not work uninstall/reinstall make sure you have all the required windows updates


most likely windowed mode will work. thats how i play oblivion now... lol it just crashes same event ID it wasnt made for X64 bit at all.